"VERY DISAPPOINTING"

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 107, 7 May 1924, Page 7

"VERY DISAPPOINTING"

BRITAIN AND PREFERENCE

MR. MASSEY'S CRITICISM

OF HOME-PARLIAMENT'S POLICY.

That the British Parliament in-fts attitude to the question of Empire preference should do nothing to weaken the ties that bind the Empire together, is the view of the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey). "Now is the time to preach closer union and not disunion," is air, Massey's axiom in. Imperial matters, and he is somewhat concerned at the turn affairs have taken at Home with respect to the Dominions and preference, more especially as it was he who was instrumental in securing recognition of the principle of. Empire- Deference by a former British Government. TREATMENT NOT DESERVED. "With regard to Empire preference, which js naturally attracting a good deal • of attention both in England and overseas, I cannot help thinking that the course of action which is being followed in the British Parliament will be very Disappointing to British citizens in tha overseas countries of the Empire, and will certainly not be viewed by" them as in the best interests of the Biiiish Em-' , piro as, a whole," declared -Mr. Massey yesterday. "I do not suggest for one ' moment that the Dominions .have ever done moro than their duty, but, for all that, I cannot help thinking that the; treatment which is now being meted -out to them is not what they expected or deserved." Mr? Massey pointed out that New Zealand gives preference in her Customs tariff on 425 articles imported from Great, Britain, but at present Great Britain gives preference to nothing' imported l from New Zealand, and apparently refuses to consider any proposal in'that direction. This was not in accordance with the true Empire spirit, biit' what; was happening now would not alfect New Zealand's loyalty to the Empiie in tlu> very slightest; he hoped that some day our fellow-citizens in Britain would coma / - round to a better way of thinking, and learn to look at such matters with tlio Empire spirit, rather than from the narrower outlook of what would suit somo particular section of the community. Declaring that to the overseas' noun- ' tries it seemed inimical to the Empire's interests that large sums of "British money should go to foreign countries for the purchase of commodities which, with proper encouragement, could be-produced' in abundance by British citizens on the unoccupied lands available in our oversea countries, Mr. Massey added * that his strongest reason for assisting to promote Empireepreference had been that " every item so arranged fqr'was another tie to assist in keeping the Empire together. FREE TRADE WITHIN" EMPIRE. "I cheerfully admit," proceeded Air Massey, _ "that the British Government has never attempted to impose taxation upon any of our products which' were being placed in their markets, and on ■ the whole Britain has been our best market, and^l believe will continue to be out best market But what is happening now is •encouraging people to think about the possibility of Free Trade within the Empire. That may not bo possible just yet, but I think tie time has come when -we should seriously con-' sider whether something might not bo done to have Free Trade within the^Ernpire in foodstuffs and raw ma- ' tonal. It is possible 'to . have a certain amount of preference without" " increasing prices, because anything in the way of a reliable market will greatly increase production in the Dominions', and so bring the supply up to the demand, at the same time providing more cash <for Britain's best customers to pur- • chase the goods required from there I admit that the British Parliament has a perfect fight to treat the recommendations of the Imperial Conferences as they think proper, but I do think that ' the recommendations of the last' Conference were worthy of more- favourable consideration^ than that which''seems to be the fate in store 'for them " Mr. Massey said that he felt convinced ' that our unoccupied territories would not be peopled, nor the Empire's industrial supremacy restored or maintained - by a policy which encouraged the purchase of a largo portion of our requirements in foreign countries. Unfortunately, the lessons of the war had been partly forgotten, and what was agreed to "at tiie last Economic Conference and recommended to the British ■ Government was but a very small instalment of what" many people who recollected the situation at the outbreak of the war 'would like to see. ■ i