The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1922. EMPIRE TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1922. EMPIRE TRADE.

Chief among the progressive, and what may be termed modern lights, of the present Imperial administration, is Colonel L. S. Amery, who is probably best known throughout the Empire as having for some time occupied the responsible position of Undct--Seeretary for the Colonies. There can be no doubt that the decade he spent on the editorial staff of the London 'limes has been of infinite value to him in his official, positions, and that he has obtained a grip of matters concerning the Empire which few, if any, of his colleagues enjoy. Quite recently, Colonel Amery a welcome contribution of views on Empire needs as regards trade expansion and . i.'u'e population. He has returned to the subject in a recent article ill the Sunday Express, a cabled of which has been published. Under the title of “Turn from Europe,” Colonel Amery has probably startled those whose business ideas run in the same groove as that of their fathers. Even a cursory glance at his observations shows that he possesses a keen insight into the position of affairs in Europe from a trading point of view, and that he is desirous that the Empire’s trade should be diverted to the | most promising markets as regards , payable results. There is no es- ■ eaping from the obvious moral conveyed by the figures he quoted, ■ showing that Britain's total exports in 1913 to her late enemies and Russia were vch; i od at ninetyseven millions sterling, as compared with two hundred. and nine millions to the Empire. The impoverishment of Europe by the war, together wTlfi the alteration of economic conditions, as well as the great unrest and tendency towards revolutions, must necessarily be adverse to trade expansiop. Colonel Amery contends that, it is idle to imagine Britain can look to European trade to help her out of the serious economic conditions left by the -.rr.r. He sees only one safe course rnvßifSUe, not. to worry over Europe, but to concentrate on trade with the Empire and let nothing interfere with the carrying out of tlm w policy—and the crux of that policy is the development of the Empire’s vast resources. There is much force in the contention that, given the will, the wav is easy, but there must be Imperial preference, not merely in Customs duties, but also in stamp duties and other taxes on the investment, of capital, as well as preference in fostering shipping on Empire routes, together with airship

services on these routes. Two factors in this system of Empire trade are the provision of the capital needed for development, and a continuous flow of well-selected immigrants. Money is the pivot on which such a scheme turns, but this capital would prove the best investment the moneyed men of the Motherland could make. To those who have made themselves acquainted with the possible resources of the different parts of the Empire, they are well aware of the enormous benefits that will accrue from a comprehensive system of development. The more this development takes place the better will be the markets for primary produce. Colonel Amery has put the position as regards Empire trade in a clear and forcible manner, and his views certainly deserve the most favorable consideration. He has outlined the nucleus of a scheme that should be of infinite benefit to the Empire, having the great advantage of the money being all spent in the Empiie and not given to foreign nations. A self-contained Empire is an ideal that now seems to be within reach of realisation.