IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 17, Issue 287, 21 August 1923, Page 8

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

MR. WILFORD WANTS ASSURANCE PRIME MINISTER INDICATES HIS ATTITUDE TAXATION AND SHIPPING SUBSIDIES Responding to a request by tho Leader of the Oppositon for an assurance as ta his attitude at the Imperial Conference on the subject of Empire preference, the Prime Minister made a further statement in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr. T. M. Wilford. M.P., Leader nf the Opposition, asked the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday for an assuranco as to the attitude he intended to take up on the question of Emnire preference at the Imperial Conference. What action did ho intend to take on the question of preference to farm products of the Dominions? Mr. Wiltord asked.. He referred to tho taxation demanded by the Home authorities of British manufacturers, iu reduction of the British national debt. While New Zealand gave preference to British goods, it must be remembered that the manufacturers of those goods were loaded with excessive taxation at Homo. This was used to reduce the national debt, which Great Britain had reduced hy over 4(50 millions last year, and over 200 millions this year. Most of the taxation on tho manufacturers was passed on, in the price of the goods, for which preference was given Shipping Subsidies.

The Prime Minister, in reply, said that his attitude on the question of Empire preference was already well known to the House and the country. Ho referred to the decision of the House of Commons in 1917, approving the principle of preference, leaving the extent of it undecided. No preference had been granted to New Zealand or Australia. It had been granted to small colonies like Ceylon, where tea Was grown, and to a country producing sugar. It was auite true that there were several wavs of arranging preference other than had been indicated. As far as he was concerned he had already expressed himself in favour of subsidies being granted to shipping by the British and colonial Governments, to th the object of placing the Dominions in a better position to meet their competitors in the supply of such things as foodstuffs and wool to the British public. Something might be done in reducing income tax on the interest on moneys lent to the Dominions, as apart from interest on money lent to foreign countries. It would all help. It was a very delicate subject, and he was not going to Increase the difficulties of the British Government by stating plainly what was in his mind. If they were not careful, they would have a repetition nf what happened in Chamberlain’s time. There was a great deal of spade work to be done. In reply to an interjection by Mr. Hanan. Mr. Massey said the British people had already agreed to a tax on tea and sugar. He was not going to say too much, however. Not a penny nf duty was charged on 90 per cent, of our products which went to Great Britain and no duty was charged on the products of South American countries either. It was -with the object of getting over the difficulty that he suggested the shipping subsidy. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL PUBLIC WORKS BITL Tho Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. . . Consideration was given in Committee to the Public Works Amendment Bill. The Leader of the Council (Sir Francis Bell) moved to add a new clause relating to the cost of maintaining drains passing through railwav lands, and providing that if any such drain formed a part of, or was used in connection with any system of sewerage under the control of any local authority, tho cost of maintaining the drain should be borne by tho local authority, and if the work of maintenance was carried out by the Crown, tho cost should be recoverable from the local authority as a debt due to the Crown. A further proviso was moved to be added to subsection 2 of section 6A, “provided also that nothing herein shall confer upon a local authority the right to enter on any railway for the purposes of any such drain 'without the prior consent of the Minister of Railways, who may grant such consent on such terms as he thinks fit.” In regard to the question of licenses, Sir Francis Bell moved an amendment to clausa 7, to add to sub-clause 12, provisos, “that if any such license issued before the commencement of the Act does not, in its terms, confer express power for tho revocation thereof by the Gover-nor-Genera 1-in-Council, cr by any pther public authority, the licensee shall bo entitled to full compensation ns a person suffering damage from tho exercise of the power conferred by the section and the provisions of Part 3 of the principal Act shall apply accordingly in respect of such compensation.” . , ~ , “Provided further that it shall be lawful for tho Minister to agree with any such licensee for tho supply of electric power from other sources to such licensee upon special terms in satisfaction, or part satisfaction, of the claim of such licensee to compensation.” The Hon Dr. A. K. Newman questioned whether sections A and B of ( clause 14 were really necessary. It provided that no person should lay, construct, place, or use any electric light across any road, street, or stream dividing ary premises except under authority of permit by. tho Minister of Public Works, but supjwsing a person wanted to put electric light from ono street to another, surely tho corporation official was quite capable of dealing with the matter?/ Sir Francis Bell replied that the effect of the clause mentioned was only to make matters easier. The amendments were adopted without discuss on, and tho Bill was read a third time and passed.