EMPIRE TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1922, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE.

MINISTER’S ADVICE. “TURN FROM EUROPE.” DEVELOP THE EMPIRE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyriffht. London, July 16. Mr. Amery, in an article in the Sunday Express, entitled “Turn from Europe,” saya: “The European market was not, even before the war, out most important market. Our total exports in 1913 to our late enemies and Russia were valued at £97,000,000, compared with £209,000,000 to the Empire. Whatever may have been the value of the European trade before the war, it is bound to be diminished for many years to come by the impoverishment of Europe, by the new political divisions which cut right acroes the natural lines of economic development and the political and social unrest. Furthermore, every one of these countries, in order to find revenue and shelter national industries against the wild fluctuations of the exchanges, iff bound to fix its tariff rates far higher than before the war, therefore it is idle to imagine that we can look to European trade to help us out of the serious economic condition in which the war has left us. “My view is that we should_not worry unduly about Europe, but throw ourselves whole-heartedly into the task of developing the immense resources of the British Empire. The way to do it will come easily enough if only we have the will, that is, if we are’prepared to do the things necessary to carry out our purpose without inquiring at every step whether it suite the traditions of this or that party in the State, or the interests of this or that paricular trade or locality.” The article emphasised the necessity of the revival of the flow of emigration from Britain, to develop the temperate regions of the Empire, and the development of the tropical and sub-tropical regions by railways, harbors, and public works of all kinds.

“To secure the full return from these policies they must be accompanied by an effective policy of Imperial preference, not merely in Customs duties, though I attach the greatest importance to that and should like to see the existing system of Customs preference in this country widely extended, but also preference in stamp duties and other taxes on the investment of capital. as well as preference in fostering shipping on Empire routes, and the fostering of an airship service along these routes.”