EMPIRE TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1921, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE.

RESOURCES OF DOMINIONS.

ASSISTANCE TO BRITAIN. PLEA FOR SETTLED POLICY, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright London, July 13. Mr. W. M. Hughes, opening the conference of Empire Producers, eaid the problem confronting public men was how to adjust the social foundations so as to avoid a deserted countryside and congested cities. England’s greatness rested on her manufactures, the Dominions depended on agricultural and primary industries. Britain could not maintain 45 million people without getting food from overseas. She must also import raw materials. These could be

supplied from within the Empire. Britain was struggling to-day against intense competition, and her trade and industrial conditions were not as they should be.

If Britain stood alone, if there were swept from her all that Empire which was her pride, she would be in a still less advantageous position to maintain herself in the struggle against rivals. One could imagine the advantages if trade within the Empire were so obvious as to need no advocacy, yet looking round he saw no evidence of a settled policy in a matter which was vital to Britain and the Empire generally. It was not for him to trespass on these grounds of domestic affairs, but he could not avoid saying that every other part of the Empire had a policy. “One thing is clear. We can never develop the great resources of the Empire until there is a definite determination to abide by a settled policy. It can be shown that it is equally as profitable to trade with the Empire as ■with foreigners, but even if it were not so there might be reasons why we should develop our own heritage instead of that of actual rivals and potential enemies. “During the war England was within 90 days of being starved. Where did the food come from that saved her, but from the Dominion's? The maximum food England can produce is one-third of her requirements. Canada and Australasia can easily supply the other twothink between them. “What is required is the assurance of a settled policy? Production has been stimulated during the last four or five yeans by the assurances given the agriculturists in Australia, which have undoubtedly saved them from ruin. I do not suggest that Government guarantees are desirable or necessary, but the circumstances of industry must be considered. “Would a business man allow hi® own resources to lie idle while he bought supplies from a rival or declared enemy ? How does the Empire dif- ’ fer from a great business? Is it good

or bad that we, with the richest heritage of any Empire of any time, should permit glorious opportunities to slip by when they could be translated into pounds, shillings and pence? “The great Dominions bought 180 millions* worth of goods from Britain in 1920, more than America, Japan and Germany together. Your kinsmen say “buy from us.’ If the Empire is to endure we much march with the times, having a well-defined policy of trade within the Empire. We must entrench it within an unassailable citadel, independent of the rest of the world.”