EMPIRE TRADE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26211, 7 September 1950, Page 6

EMPIRE TRADE

PLEA FOR CONTINUED PREFERENCE

IMPORTANCE OF TALKS AT TORQUAY

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. Sept. «. A drastic change in trading policy such as the abolition of Empire preference, might mean the disintegration of the Empire, said the acting-presi-dent of the United Kingdom Manufacturers’ and New Zealand Representatives’ Association (Mr H. B. Roe), in his presidential address at the annual meeting to-day of the association. “Britain instituted the Ottawa Agreement and Empire preference at a time when the whole world was suffering from the depression and, from then onwards, condit ; ons within the Empire —and trading generally throughout the world—improved,” said Mr Roe. "Today. more than ever before, Empire preference is vital to the Empire as a whole and to each individual unit.

“Britain lost most of her overseas markets through her war effort, and now finds that she is unable to rehabilitate herself fully, as such a large proportion of the goods she desires to export are locked out by one form or another of import control—and by the countries she has done so much to assist.

“The United Kingdom manufacturer and the Empire primary producer are the backbone of the British Empire, and the Empire preference, with its ’nterchange of goods, could be called the backbone of their success. The United Kingdom manufacturer has been established for centuries and has traded equitably with the four corners of the earth, but if these overseas markets are not prepared to trade with Britain now how is she to maintain her own economy and trade with them? In fact, how is she to live?” Referring to the Torquay conference to begin this month, Mr Roe said it would appear that Empire preference would stand or fall by the decisions reached there. “I have already stressed the importance of Empire preference, but how many of us realise that such a drastic change in our trading policv as the abolition of this system might mein the disintegration of our Empire?” he asked.

Mr Roe added that more unity and co-operation within the Empire were needed, and that an Empire customs union was desirable.