EMPIRE PREFERENCE,

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 267, 8 November 1923, Page 5

EMPIRE PREFERENCE,

NEW DUTIES IMPOSED. COLONIAL PRODUCTS BENEFIT. FURTHER PREFERENCE LIKELY (By Cable.—Frees Association.—Copyrjclit.) (Keceived 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 7. The Imperial Economic Conference has again discussed Imperial preference and the report of the sub-committee appointed to deal with the question. All the Dominion representatives expressed gratitude to the British Government for the offer to increase preference. It is undertood the British Government to-day announced further preferences, which are expected to considerably benefit the Dominions. They will take the form of new duties against foreigners while Dominions' products will be free. It is believed the new duties proposed include scwt of apples 10/t>, cwt of honey 6d. It is understood, also, that the preference to Dominion heavy wines will be I increased from one-third to two-thirds. It is believed the Government will further consider am increase on the preference on sparkling- wines.— (Reuter.) i .____ I FREE TRADE V. 'PROTECTION. THE COMING STRUGGLE. LONDON, November 7. The "Daily Express, - ' defining its attitude toward Mr. Baldwin's fiscal proposals, says: "Firstly, where any British industry manifestly is being destroyed by foreign dumping, it ought to be protected immediately, but so far there is no satisfactory proof that industries are being destroyed in this way on any scale justifying a general tariff. Secondly, to carry Protection without real Imperial preference is to rob the Tariff Reform movement of its eoul and its ultimate success. There must be preference on wheat and meat which the Government so far refuses." The "Daily Express" believes that following the collapse of European markets a new economic entity for j Britain's export trade must be "found largely within the Empire, but this market cannot be consolidated without a sweeping measure of preference within the Empire. The Press, generally, apart from strictly party organs, awaits fuller details of Mr. Baldwin's programme. Tn the meantime, there is much (-peculation concerning the attitude of Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Winston Churchill, and the Earl of Birkenhead, which is not yet known. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at Great Harewood, said: "We intend to offer the Dominions the security of the British market to enable them to place orders for locomotives and machinery and to take more settlers. It is the prospect of new markets in the Dominion which wjll decide the Government's policy now being developed at the Economic Conference."—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) NEW ZEALAND APPLES. PREFERENCE POSSIBLE. (Received 0 a.m.) LONDON, November 7. In the interests of New Zealand fruitgrowers, Mr. Massey has been successful in obtaining preference against foreign ; competitors of 5/ per cwt on fresh apples j imported into Britain from Empire countries: also a preference of 10/ per cwt on honey. These concessions were announced by the President of the Board of Trade at the conference this morning. They will, of course, be subject to ratification by the Imperial Parliament. It is announced, also, that ]0/ per cwt preference on canned salmon will bo arranged if possible.— (Special to N.Z.P.A.) • BUSY RUM-RUNNERS. HEAD THE LIST OF CRIMES. FAILURE OF THE LAW. WASHINGTON. November 7. Mrs. Willibrandt, Assistant-Attorney-General for the United States, in her annual report, says that rum-running 1 outranks piracy and all other criminal ■ offences. America is also facing on the high seas one of the greatest problems in the enforcement of, Federal law. Trade statistics from Scotland and the Bahamas, showing the amount of liquor trickling through the sea gates of America, demonstrate that the coastguard regulations are wholly inadequate to stop the traffic. The quantity of liquor annually smuggled into America cannot even be approximated. — ('"Sun.") A CONCRETE AGE. A CONCRETE AGE. A VISION OF CEMENT. LONDON, November 7. Mr. Home's new associated AngloAtlantic Corporation, tinder the chairmanship of Sir Philip Nivsh. (who j reorganised the railway transport in | France), and the chairman of Metropolitan Vickers, now controls the cement industry. The promoters believe there' are great j potentialities in cement, not only in j England and America, tout in the Dominions, especially for the construction . of houses. Moreover, the reduction in j the cost of motor cars means many i more cement roads. j Following the coal age and the steel I age they expect a concrete and cement age.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) PACIFIC CABLE BOARD. LONDON, November 7. It is understood that the Treasury has' appointed Sir William Mprwr tn thp vacant chairmanship of the Pacific Cable Board. It is believed, however, that the Dominion representatives have protested against the appointment, and urge that members of the , board should be consulted. Certain members* also hold tlip opinion that, in consequence of projected developments and the growing importance ' of the cable service, a business man with ' upeciiiliseri training rather tlian an offi- ■ rial should be appointed. Meanwhile Sir \ William Mercer"? appointment, is not confirmed. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)