MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1917, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

EMPIRE TRADE RELATIONS. EXPANSION OF PRODUCTION. PREFERENCE TO COLONIAL PRODUCTIONS. ReeeiveS Feb. 21, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 20. The committee on the Empire commercial industrial policy, of which Lord Balfour of Burleigh is chairman, recommends that in view of the experience of the war special steps ought to be taken to stimulate the production of foodBtuf/3. raw materials and manufacturer within the Empire, wherever expansion of production is possible, and economically desirable for the safety anu Welfare of the Empire. Therefore the. Imperial Government thould declare its adherence to the principle of preference for products and manufactures of the Dominions in respect of any customs duties now or here»fter imposed upon imports of the United Kingdom. The committee further opines it is necessary soon to consider as one of the methods of achieving the above objects the desirability of establishing a wider range of customs duties which would be remitted or reduced on products or manufactures of the Empire, and which form the basis of commercial treaties with tho Allies and neutrals. The committee's recommendations are accompanied by a letter to the Prime Minister recalling the Premiers' confeitnce in 1902, which unanimously passed n resolution urging the Imperial Government to grant preference to the Dominions' products. The signatories coneider the time has arrived to grant the request, considering the sacrifices and lerviccs rendered by fhe Dominions in the war.

The committeß proposes to report later Upon the question of a wider range of customs duties, and how the Dominions eould be met by granting them subsidies in lieu of tariff preferences.

The committee does not overlook the practical difficulties involved, but om.plwsises that for the purpose of recovering trade lost, during the war, securing new markets, and consolidating the Empire's resources, the development throughout the Empire of a system of mutual tariff, preferences is a subject which cannot be neglected. The signatories are satisfied that no Insuperable difficulties are embodied in the resolution. A memorandum by Sir A. E. Smith, one of the committee, recommends the confidential discussion with the Dominions before recomnwjiding a policy which may involve a fiscal policy towards the Allie?. Received Feb 21, 8.15 p.m. London, Feb. 20. It wa3 intended to discuss the details of future Empire trade relations and pcneral commercial industrial post-war policy, but the announcement of the forthcoming Imperial Conference makes It expedient merely to state the committee's views in the form of the resolutions as cabled. Although, the report adds, measures acting in restraint of trade are distasteful to some of the committee men, we think it necessary, for the sake of the Unity of the Empire to make a serious attempt to meet the Dominions' declared wishes for the development of their economic relations with the United Kingdom, we therefore decided that any abstract views we held should not Dtand in the way of important measures in general interests of the Emnirr.

SIR DOUGLAS HAIG'S INTERVIEW.

REPORT UKEEVISED. London, Feb. 20. Mr. Bonar Law stated that Sir Douglas Haig bad a frank conversation on the general situation with certain French journalists and the proofs were Bent to Headquarters, but, owing to the action of a subordinate, they (fere unfortunately not submitted to Sir Douglas Haig himself. The Cabinet knew nothing of the matter until the interview appeared. Sir Douglas Haig had given interviews to various influential gentlemen, journalists and others, belonging to the Allied and neutral countries. It had been the custom for the Allies and friendly neutrals to be allowed to see our armies at work. It. w'as not in the public interest that the matter should be further discussed, as it affected our Allies and our Commander-in-Chief.