EMPIRE RELATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1938, Page 6

EMPIRE RELATIONS

TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT POLICY SIR E. PAGE ON LONDON CONFERENCE. NOTABLE ADVANCE MADE. ('Ey Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND. This Day. ‘‘The conclusions reached by the recent conference of British and Australian Ministers in London marked a very definite advance in Empire relations.” said Sir Earle Page, 'Australian Minister of Commerce, interviewed on his arrival here by the Monterey, after visiting Britain, the United Stales, Canada and European countries. Discussing trade developments, ho expressed confidence that the latest steps taken and the proposed changes in policy would result in general benefit to the Dominions and the Mother country. He expected that the longawaited trade agreement between Britain and the United States would be concluded before the end of this year, and that it would be followed bv a liberalising of trade with European and other countries. Referring to the conference in I,ondon, Sir Earle Pago said the conclusions reached would maintain and in some respects increase the advantages of the Ottawa Agreement. “But,” he added, “these conclusions go beyond that agreement, to slate quite exnlicity what may have been implied before, namely, that the fundamental basis of Empire trade agreements should bo the defence and developmental needs of the various parts of the Empire. Consequently, the main emnbasis has now been placed on +he desirability of Australia substantially increasing her population. This is recognised to be dependent on the progressive development of sound secondary industries, combined with the expansion of primary industries. This development., in turn, depends upon markets being available. Britain has engaged to help Australia to expand her markets in three directions —in Britain, in Australia and in foreign countries. So far as the British markets for Australian products are concerned. the Ottawa Agreement right of free entrv, with preferential margins against foreigners, is continued with the added assurance that, subject to the vital interests of the United Kingdom in agriculture and overseas trade and also to the necessity to maintain remunerative prices. while safeguarding the interests of consumers, and to the absorptive capacity of the United Kingdom market, an extended market and increased opportunities should be given to Australian products. To ensure the enjoyment of this principle by other parts of the Empire, such as New Zealand, it was agreed that methods of organisation in regard to beef, which had placed the business organisation of foreign traders at the disposal of Empire countries in assisting a remunerative sale that commodity, should be considered also for other export industries.”