The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28. 1923. AN IMPERIAL POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 50, 28 February 1923, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28. 1923. AN IMPERIAL POLICY.

For the cause thnt lacks assistant*, for the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that tee oxin do.

The new Prime Minister for Australia, seems to have produced a distinct impression at Home by his vigorous appeal for "an Empire policy" in regard to defence, foreign relations, and trade. The

"Morning Post," which still maintains the traditions of Imperialism on behalf of the Conservatives, has welcomed Mr. Bruce's statement with something very like enthusiasm, and lays strong emphasis on the necessity for securing the colonial markets for Britain now that, through the economic collapse of Europe, she has lost so many of her oldest and most valued foreign customers. For Britain's own sake and safety, the "Morning Post" holds that she must attempt to reconstruct her rural industries; and if Britain were to restore her agriculture by means of _oma form of protection, ehe would then be in a position to offer fiscal advantages to the Dominions ln return for the benefits they have already secured for her in tbe colonial market by their preferential duties. The "Morning Post" appears to believe that "the Mother Country favours a policy of preference" and even if this is less a conviction than a "pious aspiration," there is certainly sound common-sense in the suggestion that, as a prelude to the coming Imperial Conference, a special Commission should be dispatched to the Dominions to ascertain their views and frame "a common basis of policy" between them and the Motherland.

It appears to be generally agreed that an Imperial Conference is to be held this year; in fact, if it had not been for the Australian and New Zealand elections, the preparations for the conference would have been by this time well under weigh. It is also understood that there ia to be an economic conference attended by the representatives of the Dominions and the Imperial delegates, but it ia not yet certain whether the two conventions art to be held independently or to be merged in one. In any case the list of topics already suggested for discussion at the economic conference covers all the most important problems with which the internal politics of the Empire are now concerned. The general idea, and purpose of this conference ia said to be "to marshal Imperial resources for the fullest possible economic development of the Empire, in order to secure mutual advantages to the Dominions and the Motherland." With these objects in view it is proposed to discuss emigration and settlement, Imperial communications, and territorial and commercial development generally. It has also been indicated that in view of the immense potentialities of the outlying portions of the Empire, and the necessity for rendering the whole Imperial system self-supporting, the British Government may consider schemes for providing financial assistance to the Crown colonies, using the Imperial credit to assist in the exploitation of their resources, and the development of forms of production and industry otherwise beyond their reach.

As a preliminary to the Conference, it is understood that a large amount ot information is being collected, bearing on all the questions likely to be discussed. The "Morning Post's" suggestion appears to point to something intended to supplement'the report on Colonial economic conditions already compiled, and we can only hope that if this work is done, it will turn out more satisfactorily than the last attempt made in this direction. However, such unfortunate episodes as the now notorious Belcher report are not likely to disturb inter-Imperial relations seriously, and the Economic Conference cannot fail to throw valuable light on the trade conditions of the Empire and the great constitutional and political consequences that their succesful development may involve. It would appear from a letter recently to the "Times" by Sir W. Joynson-Hicks that the Department of Overseas Trade is fully alive to the vast importance of the Dominions as the possible purchasers of British goods. In regard to this particular question—the abilty of Britain's Imperial dependencies to take off the surplus produce which her foreign cus-

tomers are no longer able to absorb—Sir W Joynson-Hicka quotes some very instructive figures. These show that the proportion of the total exports from the United Kingdom which goes to the rest of the Empire stands at about the same level as in 1913—between 37 and 40 per cent of the total. But on the other hand the proportion of imports received from' the United Kingdom by Canada, India,! Australia and New Zealand has been! steadily falling ever since 190.0-6. This,! of course, means that Britain's foreign competitors are making serious inroads into the most valuable markets still open to her; and if only *he coming! Conference can devise ways and means! to keep the surplus purchasing power of the Dominions within the Empire, it will have taken the first definite step toward providng the basis for an Imperial system involving not only j economic considerations and relations] But foreign policy and Imperial defence I as well. I