IMPERIAL TRADE PREFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3010, 22 February 1917, Page 5

IMPERIAL TRADE PREFERENCE

BRITISH COMMITTEE'S CONCLUSIONS

STIMULATING FOODSTUFFS

(Rec. February 21, 5.5 p.m.)

London, February 20

The 'Committee ou Post-War Commercial Industrial Policy (under Lord Balfour of Biirleigh as chairman) recommonds :

In view of tho experience of tho war, special steps ought to be taken to stimulate tho production of v-'odstufrs, raw materials, aud manufactures within tho Empiro wherever expansion of production is possible and economically desirable for tuo safoty and welfare of the Empire; therefore the Imperial Government should declare adhorenco to tho priuciple of preference for products and manufactures from tno Dominions in respect tc any Customs duties uow or hereafter imposed on imports by the United Kingdom.

Further, tlio committee is ff opinion that it will be necessary S'Wn to consider as one of the methods of aohieving tito übovo objects, the desirability of establishing a. wider rango of Customs duties which would bo remitted or reoliced on products and :. mumifacturea witEiu the Empire, and which would form the basis of coinmsrcial treaSlbs with British Allies and: neutral countries.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.Kouter.

London, February 20-

The I'eport of Lord Balfour of.Burleigh's Committee was accompanied by a, lottor to the Priino Minister recalling tne fact that the Premiers' Conference of 1902 unanimously resolved tourge "Elie Imperial Government to grant preference to the Dominions , products. The signatories consider that the time has now arrived to grant the request, considering 'the sacrifices and the services rendered by the Dominions in the war. The committee proposes to report later on the question if a, wider range of Customs duties, and how the Dominions could_ be met by rich ting them subsidies in lieu of tariff preferences. ,r We do not overlook the practical difficulties involved, but emphasise the fact that for the purpose of recovering the trade lost daring the war, securing new markets, Mid consolidating the Empire's resources, the development throughout- the Enpire of a system of mutual tariff preferences is a, subject which cannot he neglected." The signatories are satisfied that there are no insuperable obstacles. Embodied in the resolution, is a memorandum by Mr. P. E. Smith, a member of the committee, who recommends a confidential discussion with the Dominions before recommending a policy which may. involvo a fiscal policy towards Britain's allies.—Reuter. SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO MEET THE DOMINIONS. (Rec. February 21, 8.5 p.m.) London, February 20. Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Committee reports that it is intended to discuss in detail the future of,. Empire trade relations and general commercial and industrial post-war policy. "The announcement of tha forthcoming Imperial Conference makes it expedient merely to state our views in the form of. resolutions (seo above). Although measures acting in restraint of trade are distasteful to some of the committcomen, wo think it necessary for the sake of the unity of the Empire to make s, serious attempt to meet tne Dominions' declared wishes for the development of their economic relations with the United Kingdom, but have decided! that any abstract views we held should' not stand in the way of important measures in the general interests of the Empire."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. PRESS COMMENT. (Rec. February 22, 0.25 a.m.) London, February 21. The "Daily Express" states that all parties are forced to agree that Imperial preference is desirable. It may make difficulties in framing trade relations with' the Dominions and Britain's Allies, but the broad principle is now eccepted.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.