DOMINION LEADS WORLD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 896, 13 February 1930, Page 11

DOMINION LEADS WORLD

TRADE EXPANSION IN THE EMPIRE

OUTLETS FOR COMMERCE Times Cable. LONDON, Tuesday. ‘■The Times” deduces from the report o£ the Imperial Economic Committee on Empire Trade that the progress of New Zealand in the volume of exports and Imports has been roughly twice as rapid as that of the whole world. On the other hand, the trade development of Australia and South Africa has barely kept pace with that of the rest of the world. The report shows that the British Empire, as such, is not and cannot be an economic unit in any strict sense owing to its diversification, says the paper, but certainly as an economic federation it is becoming more important from the point of view of the United Kingdom as other outlets for her foreign commerce become more difficult to find.

It should be possible, without interference with the fiscal policy of any Dominion, to increase Britain's trade with the Empire. This could be done, says tho paper, by carefully planned production and marketing worked out independently of Government intervention, and by voluntarj' co-operation on the part of industrialists.

The Economic Committte, in its report, said that between 1913 and 1937 the trade of the Empire vyith the rest of the world advanced more rapidly than the world’s trade. In Canada and New Zealand tho exports in 1937 as compare with 1913 were greater by 100 per cent, and 40 per cent, respectively. Australia’s expansion in that period was 10 per cent., and that of South Africa IS per cent. McKENNA DUTIES LONDON, Tuesday. Frequent questions asked in the House of Commons about the McKenna duties and safeguarding show the ap prehension felt regarding Mr. Snowden’s forthcoming Budget. It is understood that strong pressure is being exerted on Mr. Snowden from his own side not to jettison Empire preferences until the Imperial Economic Conference has been consulted in October.