IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1918, Page 4

IMPERIAL WAR CONFERENCE.

Those who take an intelligent in-

('..'l'cst in tho affairs ol! the Empire

will certainly follow the proceedings at the Imperial War Conference with considerable keenness. The summary of the matters dealt with up to the present embrace several very important matters into which inquiry is to be made before delinite action is taken This is quite in keeping with established custom, one of the objects of the Conference being t» discuss Imperial affairs generally, but more especially the course of action to be taken under the-altered circumstances connected with the war. There are, of course, some old standing differences that await satisfactory treatment, but these will assuredly receive attention in due time. The double income tax is one of this class, and a definite promise has been given that the anomaly will be reviewed after the war, and a remedy provided for the present unsatisfactory position. The war has altered the aspect of many things which are deemed to be of prime import to the Motherland and the Dominions, hence the gathering together of the representative units for a businesslike discussion so that schemes may be framed for the future welfare of the whole Empire. It is pleasing to note that almost one of the first questions dealt with by the Conference was that which has reference to the dissemination of news. The need for an adequate and well selected Imperial news service, available for all parts of the Empire, has long been recognised. The present system of supply by means of several independent agencies has proved most unsatisfactory. The Dominions get cabled items, some of which are duplicated and even triplicated, but at best it is a patchj' and by no means well selected service, the so called news being frequently trifling or even worthless, while matters of real interest are at times conspicuous by their absence. What is wanted is a central news bureau in Britain, where the news of the world can be received and at once dispatched to the various parts of the Empire, discrimination being used to prevent messages which arc only of interest to one Dominion being sent to all. It is equally necessary that the British papers should be supplied with an adequate service of news from each of the Dominions, the selection of which should be made by a local centre in charge of a competent expert. The Conference decided that the scheme should be formulated for the interchange of news from all parts of the Empire, and if the framing of this scheme is entered upon in the right spirit and by men fitted for the task, the result should be of inestimable service, and provision should be made for the Imperial and Dominion Governments bearing the expense of transmitting same, the newspapers concerned being only called upon to pay the cost of telegraphing the news from their own local centre. In effect this would amount to nationalising the news service for the benefit of the people of the Empire. Another question that came before the_ Conference was that relating to' freeing the industries of the United Kingdom (and those of the Dominions) from dependence on German dye stuffs. The war has shown this to be an imperative necessity, and the after-war conditions will certainly require this independence. After all this problem is only one for research and experiment, British determination beftig relied upon to obtain a satisfactory solution, while the Dominions should give all the help in their power, To again allow Germany to dominate any of our essential industries would be to admit that the lesson of the war has been wasted, and that is unthinkable. The subject of interImperial communications, which has occupied the attention of the Conference, is likely to prove far more difficult than would appear on the surface. Cheap and rapid transport of passengers and goods is a reform that has been delayed far too long and has thus" forced into prominence the policy of nationalising the ocean transport ; services. During the war shipowners have amassed vast profits, ■ and this exploiting process has

i!>en assisted by the formation of powerful combines, creating thereby huge vested interests/It is obvious that some drastic measures will have to be taken in order to place the transport service on a proper footing, and in this matter the Dominions •' representatives should be able to be of great service if they approach the problem from a practical and detached viewpoint. It i s easy to merelv discuss complicated subjects, but to prepare schemes that will offer kl IS ui Cto - ly ■ solutioM of the jAoubles oa a taste requin^ Jeefc

ial qualifications, but, once the main principles are agreed upon, there should lie 110 insuperable difficulty in satisfactory schemes taking shape. I.t is for the Conference to settle the principles at.the earliest possible moment.