FREER TRADE DESIRED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 766, 12 September 1929, Page 9

FREER TRADE DESIRED

BUT EMPIRE FREE TRADE NOT PRACTICABLE A CANADIAN OPINION (Axistralian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 9 a.m. EDMONTON, Wed. Mr. William Birks, of Montreal, in liis presidential address before the Canadian Chamber of Commerce Convention on Wednesday, urged greater intra-Empire trade. Empire free trade, he believed, was not yet practicable, but freer trade was, it at the same time an economic blockade to the South were faced. A resolution endorsing the holding of a conference of the commercial and industrial leaders of the Empire, and authorising the appointment of a committee to take such steps as are necessary, in conference with the Dominion Government and other interested bodies, was passed unanimously by the Convention. The resolution was hailed by the Convention as the most important step yet taken by a body toward furthering Empire trade. The Rt. Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, who is visiting the Convention, said the business man alone could fully realise the difficulties of building up the Empire. The problems included differing living conditions, wages, and the fact that the British Commonwealth was not a single political unit. It was necessary to show that any step was not only for the good of the Empire as a whole, but also for the partners individually. The politician would either ignore the difficulties and his schemes would break down, or he wottld realise the immensity of the problems and present a blank refusal to act. Business men alone could see the whole situation, and present policies which the politician could safely follow.

“The country to the south is but a mere indication of what we can build up. Our resources are infinitely greater; our ability is no less.”