AN ANTI- IMPERIAL POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 71, 23 March 1923, Page 4

AN ANTI- IMPERIAL POLICY.

It was reported recently that the British War Office had let a contract in America for tinned beef without inviting competition from the Dominions, and naturally there have been protests against such v passing over of producers within the Kmpire. We have received an interesting communication from a New Zealand tirm pointing out that the fact that the War Office, required twelve-ounce tins was no bar to New Zealand, for this firm supplied the War Ollice. with ten thousand cases of this particular tin during* the Creat War. This matter is of very great importance to Kmpire trade and develop ment, for. coining on top of the trouble in connection with the Kmpire Exhibition in London, it shows that Dominion products have to contend against entrenched prejudice or ignorance in inliueutial quarters in London. There is no excuse for (he War OfTice going to America for what it can get in the Dominions. Apart from the wisdom of the British Government dealing with its own people, one would think that every effort would be made, under present conditions of trade, to restrict imports from America. This action of the War Office i- directly opposed to the resolution of the Imperial Conference of ldlS that laid ilmvt, the principle that "each part of tin Empire, having due regard to the interest? of our Allies, shall pive specially favourable treatment and facilities to the produce and manufactures of other parts of the Kmpire." This question of supplies for the British services should be one of the matters discussed :it the forthcoming Economic Conference.