ECONOMIC ASPECT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18926, 15 February 1927, Page 9

ECONOMIC ASPECT.

WORK OF IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

REVIEW BY MR COATES. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON. February 14. In reviewing tho work of the Imperial Conference, so far as economic problems were concerned, the Prime Minister (tho Right lion. J. G. Coates). in a statement to-day, dealt with a variety of topics, including iuter-Empire trade and communication, immigration, and research work. "The Conference accomplished a large amount of useful work on the economic side, and its results cannot fail to bo of benefit to the people of the Empire in the most direct sense," said the Prime Miuistcr. "In England there now exist many voluntary organisations, composed ot both men and women, whoso efforts are having a reiuarkablo effect upon tho demand for Empire product*, and this movement will, iu my opinion, be greatly assisted by the educative work of the Empire Marketing Board. This Board, which is under the chairmanship ot the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, contains representatives of tho various British Departments of State, and has associated with it delegates from each of the Dominions.

"in connexion with the disposal of New Zealand's produce in tho United Kingdom, arrangements have been made for the closest co-operation between the High Commissioner and tho London representatives of the organisations concerned with the disposal of New Zealand dairy produco, meat, fruit, and honey, and, indeed, with any organisation engaged in the selling of New Zealand produce, and it is noped that in the course of time a highly efficient organisation will be built up for that purpose. "While in London, 1 took the opportunity, in conjunction with the High Commissioner, to set tip a committee consisting of the New Zealand publicity officer in London and representatives of each of the New Zealand selling organisations to co-ordinate advertising activities, to avoid overlapping, to reduce costs, and to obtain the maximum effect of the sentiment that is already being created in the manner outlined above. It is, of course, dear that we cannot look for a stable market for the disposal of Dominion products in the United Kingdom unless our customers are prosperous and have the necessary purchasing power, and we are consequently vitally interested in the material well-being of the pepple of Great Britain. A healthy optimism is noticeable in Great Britain, and I think that this optimism is based on a solid and promising foundation. Great Britain's enormous war debts are satisfactorily provided for and her industries have been reorganised* ao thoroughly that she may' safely be said to possess some of the most modern and up-to-date factories in the world. Given industrial peace, she will forge ahead. She is thoroughly awake to the position, and I look forward with confidence to her recovery of that position of predominance in world trade and finance that lit has so long been her privilege to ! hold.

"I am not without hope that it may be found practicable to reduce the period required for the transport of our products to the United Kingdom, although this, of course, is not a matter that can be arranged in a day, "In the matter of air communication I was greatly impressed with tbo enthusiasm of the Secretory of State for Air and his officers and-with the possibilities of the future. I am particularly interested in the projected airship service between the United Kingdom and the outlying jrartions, of the Empire, and when the project has taken sufficient shape and its reliability is assured, New Zealand will be asked to take the necessary steps to fall into line with other distant portions of the Em-ire.

"The subject of oversets settlement is one that has a distinct bearing on the economic life of the Empire. It is a fact that, at the present time at any rate, the white population of the Empire is not distributed to the best advantage, and there can be no doubt that the transfer of the surplus population of the United Kingdom to the Dominions would be beneficial. Great progress has been made in this direction, but in the ease of New Zealand it is, of course, necessary to soe that immigration is not allowed to become greater than the country can satisfactorily absorb. We are, of course, anxious to proceed as far as possible, but economic conditions In New Zealand at the prosent time have rendered necessary a reconsideration of the volume of Immigration, and it has' been decided that during the winter months the number of assisted immigrants will be reduced to a .minimum. The greatest care is already taken in the selection of the migrants,' and it is not proposed to relax In any way the standards that are considered necessary in the interests not .only of this country, but of the immigrants themselves." "The vitally important subject of research was investigated by a special sub-committee, and the growing interest in this subject is a very healthy sign of the determination of the Empire to make the best use of its potentialities. Every possible step is being taken to provide a system of consultation and co-ordination between the various portions of the Empire in order to disseminate knowledge as widely as possible and to prevent duplication of work, and the New Zealand Department of Scientific Research will, I think, enable us to work in close harmony with similar organisations in other parts of the Empire, and to profit by scientific investigation in whatever part of the Empire it may take place. I cannot too strongly emphasise my sense of the growing importance of science in business in a country such as New Zealand, whieh depends for its prosperity on the produce of the land. There Is an enormous field for the application of scientific principles. In tropical agriculture in particular, great progress is being made and New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and Western Samoa should profit considerably from the interchange of Information and trained workers available for service. Quite apart from the Conference, enquiries were made in Great Britain and on the Continent into many matters of trade and commerce, in which New Zealand is interested and a considerable amount of information has been collected whieh will, I believe, prove o£ real value to the Dominion."

"I found the utmost readiness in both Governmental and business circles in Canada, to consider any proposals that I brought forward, and there Is undoubtedly a very strong feeling In that Dominion in favour of the purchase of Empire goods. Canada is anxious to increase the amount of its purchases from New Zealand, and I feel convinced th*t with the sympathy and assistance of the Canadian Government and the Canadian people New Zealand's present advene balanee in her trade with Canada will be very largely redressed."