Economic Co-ordination To Unite Commonwealth

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28001, 22 June 1956, Page 12

Economic Co-ordination To Unite Commonwealth

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, z June 21. A pooling of resources among member nations of the British Commonwealth to achieve economic unity, was urged by Mr A. P. O’Shea, general secretary of Federated Farmers at Wellington today. “Is there any sense in us British countries confining ourselves to the cultivation of friendly sentiments, the development of communications and other means of promoting intimacy and good understanding?” he asked. “I don’t think so.

“I believe we have also got to do something in the way of practical economics to make for closer relations,” said Mr O’Shea, who was addressing the local branch of the Royal Empire Society. “If we were to use the Empire as one economic unit we could more than compete with the world.” Developing his plea for economic unity in the Empire, he said that no Empire country should seek to obtain

an advantage at the expense of another Empire country. The way New Zealand had penalised Australian manufacturers was difficult to understand. Of “things that cause annoyance” he said: “At the moment we in New Zealand feel that the spirit of the Ottawa Agreement is threatened by the action Britain is taking over the admission of primary products into the United Kingdom “They feel, and with justification, that we broke the Ottawa Agreement by starting up industries which were not reasonably assured of sound opportunities ef success and by refusing British industries the right to compete in our market. “Then again, many people feel that the British manufacturer should give more consideration to our requirements than he does at present." Minor things could be a threat to Empire unity, said Mr O’Shea.