THE PREFERENCE ISSUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 7

THE PREFERENCE ISSUE.

CANADA AND BRITAIN. MUTUAL ADVANTAGES. OTTAWA, May 10. "Canada has given preference in her own interests as well as in what she conceived' to be the interests of the rest of the Empire," declared the Prime Minister, Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, in correspondence with the Baldwin Government during the sittings of the last Imperial Conference. This correspondence is published to-day. In a letter to Sir P. Lloyd-Greame, who was then President of the Board of Trade, Mr. King stated that Canada's preference had never in the past been made conditional on the ; United Kingdom granting 4 equal pre- ', ference in return. The letter pro--1 ceeded: "Should the British people decide. at any time-that it would be in their own interests and what they conceive to be the interests of the Empire to make far-reaching changes in the present fiscal policy. Canada naturally expects in the establishment of a tariff that full and adequate coneide'ration will be given through preferential duties to the interests of Canada's producers, and to the substantial preference which ' Canada accords to British goods." \ Mr. King's letter then outlined some 3 of'the chief Canadian exports on which "effective preference would be of most r value, especially wheat.—(Reuter.) 1 BRITISH NEWSPRINT. THE DOMINIONS' PREFERENCE. LONDON, May 16. Mr. Frank Lloyd, chairman of the Lloyd Newsprint Manufacturers' Association, speaking at a general meeting of the company } said " the preference f which New Zealand and Australia had I generously "~ granted had materially - assisted the British newsprint industry ) during the post-war reconstruction 3 period. It had helped to reduce the t unemployment ratio materially. They 3 were now approaching an economic basis., which would enable the British manufacturers to lower export prices to a competitive level. —("Sun.") COMMENT IN JAMAICA. RECIPROCAL TRADE. c ' NEW YORK, May IC. A message from Kingston, Jamaica, j states that public opinion there is Q strongly against 4 the British Government's attitude oh preference. c • The newspaper "Gleaner," disc cussing the abolition of the McEenna „ duties said: "If this Labour Govern- ° ment continues in office to the end of j. the year, with a prospect of being again returned, the West Indies will begin to negotiate reciprocity treaties with any nation which offers us satisfactory, terms for similar terms granted to them." —(A.-and N.Z. Cable.)