MR. MASSEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1921, Page 5

MR. MASSEY.

TRADE POLICY SPEECH.

BRITISH GOODS FOR BRITISHERS. EMPIRE AND SEA POWER, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 15, 8.15 p.m. London, July 14. Lord Sydenham, president of the Empire Producers’ Association gave a luncheon to Mr. W. F. Massey. Lord Sydenham said no Dominion was

more devoted to Imperial unity than New Zealand. He hoped Mr. Massey would not find the terms of the mandate for Samoa, which he was called upon to administer, intolerable, though speaking frankly he feared he would. Lord Sydenham welcomed Mr. Massey as one of the strong fellows of the Empire. Mr. Massey, replying, advocated the adoption of a well-thought-out policy of Empire preference, which would encourage production, bring waste places under cultivation, provide remunerative employment and keep the Empires citizens under their own flag. It was equally necessary that Britain should recover her old position as a creditor nation. Mr. Massey suggested that the Empire Producers’ Association should adopt the slogan: “British goods for British citizens; British citizens for British goods.” Mr. Massey said the sheep statistics of the world for the past ten years showed a decline of twenty per cent., foreshadowing that the wool supply would soon be to meet the demand. The same conclusion applied to the mutton supply, thus the producers might expect higher prices in the near future. Referring to the chairman’s allusion to the mandates, Mr. Massey said New Zealand intended to do her duty by the Samoans and accord them treatment similar to that enjoyed by the Maori population in New Zealand.

Mr. Massey hoped President Harding’s conference would be thoroughly successful, but he emphasised the fact that the Empire’s very existence was based on sea power, and “We cannot allow of ourselves to live on the sufferance of any other nation.” The British Navy must be second to none in the world. Nevertheless, he would welcome any arrangement between the Great Powers that would not endanger the safety of the Empire. Mr. Massey stated that the conference had decided on the establishment of an Empire wireless chain. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.