EMPIRE UNITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 141, 13 June 1912, Page 5

EMPIRE UNITY.

SAFEGUARDED BY TRADE. __ PROOF OF LOYALTY. . ' SUPREMACY IN COIVSMERCE, J (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) fc LONDON, June 12. In his speech at the Guildhall gathering of the Empire commercial representatives the Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith) said that one of the most convincing proofs, and one of the surest - safeguards of our Imperial loyalty, unity, ( and strength was that for several years ' past a quarter of the Motherland'", mi- < ports had come from the overseas Do- t minions. Over a third of the British exports 1 went to the Dominions, the aggregate 1 trade amounting to £400,000,000. Lord Desborough said that it was daily 1 ' becoming more apparent that if the 1 Empire was to live it must consolidate i > in commerce as well as in defence. > Great Britain, a generation ago, was I supreme in commerce and first in arms, I 3 but the progress of other countries had I! " more than threatened her supremacy in); ' commerce. We must, he said, look to the < r Empire to maintain the position that! Great Britain had previously held alone. 1 In referring to the question of Im- 1 perial defence Lord Desborough said that I < the people at Home appreciated the i spirit that was being demonstrated in i the Dominions. In an interview. Mr. G. E. Foster, Canadian Minister for Trade and Ous- ! toms, mentioned the favourable progress that is being made in the reciprocity ; negotiations Detweei. Canada and Aus- i traJia. I Mr Foster said he regretted Sir Joseph i *■ Ward's resignation of his position as i 5 New Zealand's representative on the Imperial Trade Commission. He regarded i T Sir Joseph as an enthusiastic advocate ' of preference. There was no question in Canada at present regarding the maintenance of 1 preference, but there might come a time, 5 be said, when men would ask whether . preference should be all one-sided.

: DEVELOPING THE EMPIRE.

A DOMINIONS FUND. , 1 10.50 a.m.)' ' LONDON, June 12. The Empire Trade Committee of the 1 Colonial Institute has memorialised the l Empire Trade Commission, urging the ■ establishment of an Empire Development. i Fund on lines proposed by Australia at • the 1907 Imperial Conference. < The committee suggests that the diffi- ; culty of the apportionment of the fund j could be overcome by leaving each , Dominion free to vote what it pleases. j Probably Canada, New Zeala.nd, and < the United Kingdom might readily vote j ] money to facilitate communication by the • Atlantic and Pacific via Panama, while tbe Commonwealth and _ew Zealand . might contribute with a view to reducing \ Suez Canal dues. j The scheme might lead to subsidised ! mail services, arranged jointly with aj ( view to economy and co-ordination.