“Oliver Twists in London”

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 105, 28 January 1931, Page 7

“Oliver Twists in London”

Sir, —The above quotation is borrowed from a Christchurch paper, and adequately expresses the attitude taken up by the Dominions in London through their respective Premiers. It is to be greatly deplored that more interest has not been taken in the Imperial Conference, as it deeply concerns everyone in the Dominion. The present Home Cabinet cannot be expected to have the same Imperially wide outlook as their predecessors, and are therefore more likely to be guided by statistics. The Year Book figures show roughly that the Dominion sends to the United Kingdom 90 per cent, more in value than it imports from the United Kingdom, and on most of these imports there is a heavy duty to be paid, raising the cost to the consumer 100 per cent, or more. The Dominion factory products amount to over £100,000,000 per annum. Therefore, how could a Home Cabinet Minister view such circumstances? The only outcome of his thoughts can be that New Zealand, through its Minister, is wanting an open door for its products, while to bolster up 5000 little factories by means of heavy import duties, it diminishes the import of goods from the United Kingdom. The Christchurch “Press” says: “As soon as the Dominion delegates begin to see that they are asking Great Britain to give a great deal more than they are prepared to give, and to take great risks while they take none, the discussions of preference will take a more realistic turn.” Among other things, “Farming First” says, in its October issue: “It is nonsense to suppose that Britain will protect New Zealand butter from Danish, and will not protect British blitter against the New Zealand produce. British farmers have everything in their favour.” Incidentally, cubs should not try on twisting the lion’s tail, as they risk getting a severe reproof. , Very few are aware of the fact that the people of the Empire take only about 45 per cent, of the exported production of the United Kingdom, the rest of the world taking the difference. Therefore, statistically, the Empire is of less importance to the manufacturers, of the United Kingdom than is the rest' of the world. Nor are Home manufacturers and' workpeople called upon to contribute their share of taxation to defend any part of the world other than the Empire and the latter being of less financial value to them. Hence it would appear that it is for those within the Empire to decide whether or not they wish for a closer economic association with the Old Country, -or whether the surplus manufactures, population and capital of the United Kingdom shall go to foreign countries, and if the latter increasingly matures, the great probability is that it means the gradual breaking tip of the Empire. also that the Dominions would be peopled by aliens. And are there not indications that this has already set in? Furither, if this is so. what have we fought for? Or to look nt the matter from another aspect: The imports from the United Kingdom are decreasing, and those from the U.S.A, increasing. Last year there was nn excess of imports from the U.S.A, of £541.841. and an excess of exnorts to the United Kingdom of £17.218.096. Our legislators are just parochial vote catchers. What really matters is never expained to the people. How much longer will the neonle stand being fooled and bribed with their own money? Our bankers before .anyone else must be aware of this drift. United we stand, divided we fall.

The present Imperial economic system which is the result of centuries of evolution worked quite satisfactorily until democracy abused its privileges and squandered huge sums of money., thereby increasing the burden of taxation, resuming in increased cost of production and unemployment. There are other factors, hut the above are the orincipal contributory canss of our troubles. . Next year the Imperial Economic Conference takes place at Ottawa. May we respectfully suggest to all whom it may

eonern that they should carefully consider what action they propose to take. —We are, etc.. OBSERVERS. - Napier, January 15.