SIR JAMES ALLEN.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17732, 7 April 1923, Page 7

SIR JAMES ALLEN.

VISIT TO BRADFORD. GUEST OF WOOL FEDERATION. {FBOH QUE own COERZSrQNDE37.) LONDON, February 20. Sir James Allen went to Bradford last Friday at the invitation of the British Wool Federation, at whose annual dinner he was the principal guest. The High Commissioner was also privately entertained by Mr Walter Andrews, president of the Association, who took him over his own top-making and other factories. Sir James was greatly impressed with the specialisation of the wool processes in Bradford. Others present at the dinner in the evening were:—The Lord Mayor (Alderman Thomas Snowdon), Lord Bamby, Sir H. Whitehead (president of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce), Sir W. Bulmer (Halifax), Mr G. Ga'rnett (vice-president of the Textile Institute and of the Exeeutivo Committee of the Federation of British Industries), Mr H. Sutcliffe Smith (president of the Colour Users' Association). Mr F. Mitchell (Woolcombing Employers' Federation), Mr 11. S. Clough, Mr G. Whittalccr (joint chairman of the National Wool (and Allied) Textile Industrial Council),'Mr F. Holrovd (Halifax), Mr A. Hill, Mr H. 11. Duncan, and Mr W. Harrison (secretar}'). Several of these were the hosts of the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) when he visited the wool centro in 1921. Mr Ilolroyd, proposing "The Houses of Parliament.," expressed tho hope they would tinker as little as possible with the business of the country, but seriously with tho business of taxation. The business community was perilously near the last straw in that respect. The position in regard to the taxation of machinery was most unfortunate. It seemed that it was within the discretion of a valuer to say whether he would or would not value machinery. There had been a now valuation in Halifax, where the valuer took the view that machinery ought to bo taxed. The Halifax cotton industry had to compete with Lancashire, where there were more areas with untaxed machinery than in Yorkshire. All should be on one footing. Lord Barnby said' there never waa a period which called for more strenuous and sagacious effort. Tho world was in a turmoil, and it* was of the utmost importance that affairs should be in the hands of level-headed men who would enact measures that would tend to pacification. Interests were now so interwoven that the success or failure of one country was the success or failure of others. Mr Clough, proposing "His Majesty's Dominions," said the association of free States which they and the Mother Country represented was not an empire in the ancient military sense. Britishers delighted in the achievement of political equality as between the Colonies and England. "Our hope is," said Mr Clougli, "that our newest Dominion, torn and wracked as it is to-day with civil strife, will resolve its troubles before long and join the other Dominions on an equal status, and enjoy with them the peace and stability for which they are distinguished." Unity of Empire. Sir James Allen did not know whether there was. a clear idea in everybody's mind of what dominion meant. There were those who thought it meant the pressure of the power of force upon those of a different or even the same race. In the Dominions they were doing their level best to be worthy of the name of Britain. After paying a tribute to the loyalty of the Maori and other races during the war, when he was Minister of Defence in New Zealand, Sir James said the Dominions had the same King as the.Old Country, tho flag, and the same constitution. What a heritage! There was a time when the Dominions were looked upon as a nuisance and an expense, but that time was past. New_ Zealand was rich and healthy, a suitable habitation for men of "the Anglo-Saxon breed. A great responsibility lay upon the race to seo thaV the Dominions should not only develC their material resources, but the traditions of equity, justice, and honeßt trade. From the point of view of material wealth, where was the Mother Country to look for better aid, for more honest purpose in that aid, than to their own kith and kin bey6nd the seas? "We have given you preference in trade of a very extensive character," said Sir James, "because we wish to develop trade with you." The day might come when Canada and Australia would have a population as large as that of Great Britain. In New Zealand there was less room than in those countries, but still there was room for more of tho right type; and men who went-there with determination, energy, ability, and straightforwardness would in 99 cases out of 100 succeed. As a New Zcalander, he urged upon Australia, and upon those who had tho idea of going there, the vital necessitv of peopling the vast empty spaees of that continent. Referring to the growth of manufactures in the Dominions, Sir James said there should be no idea of stifling the development of industries. The thing to do was to fill the Dominions with human beings, whoso wants could not for many years be supplied by factories of their own.