BRITAIN'S BEST MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 167, 17 July 1922, Page 5

BRITAIN'S BEST MARKET.

IN OVERSEAS DOMINIONS.

TIME TO TURN FROM EUROPE.

FLOW OF EMIGRATION.

(By i.'able.—l'rt'ss AssoeUitloa—Conyriglit.)

UXN'DOX, July IC. Mr. 1.. C. M. S. Amery, chairman of Hie Overseas Settlement Committee, in an article in the -Sunday Express." entitled: "Ti,rn from Europe." says: "The European market was not. even before the war. our rm»i important market. Our total exports in 1013 to our late enemies and Russia amounted to only W7,000.000. compared with fciU'.l.ooo.ooo 1o the Empire. Whatever was the*valuc of our European trade before the war, it i> bound to lie diminished for many years to vonie by the impoverishment of Europe, by new political divisions which cut right across the natural lines of economic development, and by ]Kilitical and social unrest.

"Furthermore, every one of these countries, in order to' iind revenue and shelter national industries against wild fluctuations of exchanges, is bound to fix its tariff rates far higher than before the war. Therefore it is idle to imagine that we can look t" European trade tii help us uut of the serious economic condition in which the war has left us.

'•My view is that we should not worry unduly about Europe, but should throw ourselves whole-heartedly into the task of developing the immense resources or the British Empire. The way to do it will come easily enough if only we have the will, that is if we are prepa.re,l to do things necessary to carry oiit our purpose without inquiring at every step whether it >uits the traditions of this or thai party in the State, or the interests of this or that particular trade or locality."

Mr. Amery proceeds to emphasise the necessity for a revival of the (low of emigration from Britain to develop the temperate region> of the Empire, and the development of tropical and subtropical regions by railways, harbour?, and public works of all kinds.

"To secure a full return from these policies.' , he write.-, ""they must he accompanied by an effective polity of Imperial preference, not merely in customs and dutie>. though 1 attach the gToatcst importance to that, and should like iv see the existing system of customs preference iv this country widely extended, but also preference in stamp duties and other taxes on investment capital, and prcferenee in fostering .shipping on Ktnpire routes, and in fostering an airship service on these route*." (A. and 5.7.. Cable.!