EMPIRE TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 142, 13 December 1923, Page 8

EMPIRE TRADE

WORK OF CONFERENCES

MR, MASSEY DISCUSSES OUTLOOK.

(UNITED PRlgf ASSOCIATION. —COFTXIOIT.)

(iUITRALIAN-NETT ZEALAND CABLI ASBOCUTIOH.)

(Received 13th December, 2 p.m.)

LONDON, 12th December.

Mr. Massey, interviewed by the Australian Press Association in reference to the bearing of the British political situation on the work of the Imperial Conferences, said that whatever may happen, the recommendations of the Conferences were never a prominent issue at the General Election. They were put on one side, at all events iot the time being. "But whatever party comes into power, I hope the recommendations will be submitted to Parliament. Any other course would be extremely disappointing to the people of the Dominions. "The principal functions of the Conferences were to consider the best methods of developing the British countries overseas; to assist in arriving at a solution of the present difficulty in Ei^ope, with the object of finally and definitely fixing the amount of reparations to be paid _by Germany;_ to assist in removing the industrial depression in, Britain; to consider the defence of the Empire, especially naval defence; and generally to strengthen the ties that keep together the peoples of the Empire. How far we have been successful in these matters it is at present impossible to say. I am certain that if the Conferences' recommendations are put into operation, they would be of immense benefit both to Britain and to the Dominions.

"Regarding the protection of the British home markets, I have more faith in the good sense of the people of the United Kingdom than to think they will continue for long to allow foreign nations, which will not in any way reciprocate, to take, the bread out of the mouths of British citizens, which is undoubtedly happening under the present conditions.

Whatever might be said to the contrary, Mr. Massey continued, the people of the Dominions had been thoroughly unselfish in their attitude, though their stand had often been misrepresented f Ven L P^Pl6 wh,o ought to know betv- Dominions were advocating their proposals not from any selfish mo- "^ but for the benefit of the whole of the Empire', with the object of making it self-supporting, of having its foodstuffs and raw materials produced within its own boundaries, and its people made more independent of the products ot other nations than had ever been the case hitherto. The Dominions believed that within the Empire there should be work and food for all its citizens. "Empire preference has .received a temporary creek; but the British people never fight so well as with their backs to the wall. I believe the movement recently initiated 'will continue until the prosperity of Britain is restored, and until m industrial achievements she again leads the world."