EMPIRE TRADE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 4 November 1930, Page 15

EMPIRE TRADE.

beaverbrook campaign. new ZEALANDER'S view. [THE FBESB Special Serrtco.] AUCKLAND, November 3. "The policy of Empire trade being put forward in England at present by Lord Beaverbrook and his supporters can be viewed from more aspects than most people in England believe," said the Hon. T. Shailer Weston, M.L.C., who arrived at Auckland by the Niagara after an extended tour abroad. "The policy has certainly captured the public imagination to a very great extent, but I am inclined to think that too great a degree of importance is being attached to it by the people in England. "Lord Beaverbrook and his supporters did not appreciate the development of secondary industries in the Dominions," Mr Weston continued. "They considered that a policy of Imperial preference would result immediately in a rapid expansion of markets in the Dominions for British manufactures, and did not realise that manufacturing firms in the Dominions would be their competitors. Many people in England expected greater advantages from Imperial preference than they were likely to obtain. "Whether or not Great Britain is able to give us some form of preference, we must continue to support her in every way possible," Mr Weston said. ''Britain is carrying an immense burden of debt with its accompanying heavy taxation. Then, again, Britain is faced with prohibitive protective duties in many of her old markets. It is absolutely essential that the Dominions should cease to 'sponge' on the Mother Country as they have done in the past. Mr J. H. Thomas struck a significant note at the Imperial Conference when he said that Britain was providing naval defence for the whole of the Empire, and that no European nation had such favourable access to the London money market as had the Dominions. To all intents and purposes Britain is the only market in Europe for the Dominions.' It is practically the only market of its kind in the world. Anything which would weaken this market for our products would be disastrous." A Better Outlook.. ■- In spite of the great burden of debt and taxation the outlook for British manufacturers was not as bad as some people believed, Mr Weston continued. Outside the shipbuilding, textile, and coal trades, which were governed by peculiar circumstances, most; industries ■were quite prosperous. Even in the cotton trade steps were being taken to reorganise the industry and with conditions in the east gradually becoming quieter it might not be long before Lancashire mills commenced full production again with the resultant relief of much unemployment in tho North of England. . In pursuance of a promise :madc at the Impcri-l '.inference in 1926, the Bri tish Government was making most successful efforts' to popularise Dominion products through the Empire Marketing Board. The work could easily be ex tended. He had been most interests in seeing how well the Board had advertised New Zealand apples, honey, and butter even 'n country districts. •High Commissioner's Work. "I was also impressed with tho work being carried out by the High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Wilford," Mr Weston said. ''However, Sir Thomas is doing such important work that he is in urgent rreed of fully qualified assistance and no doubt the Prime Minister, oil his return from England will be able to recommend Parliament to provide finance for strengthening the Department in this direction." Mr Weston added that on his return through Canada he had inspected the offices taken by Mr J. W. Collins, the fi»-- New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Canada. Mr Collins, whose headquarters were at Toronto, was rapidly gaining a thorough grip on the trade position in Canada, and was doing good . work. !