STANDING ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 131, 4 June 1924, Page 13

STANDING ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

MR. THOMAS'S STATEMENT

CPBOU DDK OWN CORRESPONDHNT.)

LONDON, 3rd March. A question of interest was raised in the House of Commons by Dr. AV. A. Chappie, this week; The questioner asked the. Colonial Secretary (Mr. J. H. Thomas) whether he had come to any decision upon the functions and scope of the Imperial Economic Committee.

Mr. Thomas replied that after careful consideration "His Majesty's Government have come to the conclusion, particularly in view of the fact that the Imperial Economic Conference itself did not reach unanimity on tho subject, that a, Standing Economic Committee, with general terms of reference, would not really assist co-operation between the Governments. They feel that, in all the circumstances, they cannot support adoption of the recommendation." / '■•

Dr. Chappie: "Does that mean that the Imperial Economic Conference Committee is dropped?" " ' ■ . Mr. Thomas : "So far as the answer I have given, yes, and \for the reasons I have already stated." Dr. Chappie asked whether the right; hon. gentleman had had any communication from the Dominions in this regard, apd whether he was doing this after consultation with the Dominions.

Mr. Thomas : "We had no time, following the appearance of the question, to get into touch with anybody. The decision was arrived at after full consideration of the facts.".

Earl Winterton: "As a member of the Conference in question, may I ask if the' right Hon. gentleman is aware ■that the decision to appoint this committee was only come to after the most careful consideration, and does he not think that this question is covered by the pledge already given, I think by the • Prime Minister,, that the whole of. these matters wonld be subjected to the discussion of Parliament?" Mr. Thomas : "Clearly the answer to the last part of the question is 'Yes.' It will come before the House of Commons, but no one knows better than the noble lord that Canada is opposed/ and gave very cogent reasons for her opposition. That was in the mind of the Cabinet when they came to thi3 decision." Dr. Chappie : "Will the right hon. gentleman not communicate with the other Dominions and ascertain what their opinions are before he comes to a final decision?" The Speaker intervened at this point. Mr. "Ormsby-Gore (Stafford, U.) : "Are we to understand that the Govern-, vnont have no objection to setting up" ad hoc Economio Committees of an Imperial character, and that it is merely the general committee to which Canada objects that they do not want to set up?" . Mr. Thomas : "It would be unfair to assume that the Government do not object to ad hoe committees; there are objections even to ad hoc committees. But, as I have already explained, a further discussion win take place on the general question arising out of the .Economic Conference." AN ARBITRARY ACTION. "That public opinion was behind this proposal,", saya "The Daily Telegraph," in a leading article on tho subject, "and is still behind it, has never been in doubt. And yet, owing to the series of unforeseen events which has placed in office an Administration whose general policy was condemned by two-third^of the electors, the progress of the movement towards Imperial Development and Imperial settlement is being arrested^ just when hope ran high in the oversea* parts of the. Empire that practical steps were ! about to be taken to bring this country and the Dominions into closer and more fruitful association. The Imperial Economic Committee was to ■have been the clearing house of ideas and complaints, and the refusal to carry out the definitely expressed wish of the Conference in .'favour of its appointment may quite justifiably be regarded with the gravest displeasure by the peoples of'the Dominions,, as well as by the Crown Colonies and 'Protectorates. "The virtual pledge of this country's co-operations is to be repudiated, apparently without consultation with the oversea Governments, who have attached great . importance to the proposal. The only ground that Mr. J. H. Thomas, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, can advance in justification of this arbitrary action is that Canada did not support the suggestion. That is not a new fact. It was known to the Conference before action was taken, and there is certainly no reason to suppose that even Canada would have been in any way distressed by the setting up of the committee. Her attitude was rather that she did not intend, at least for the time being," to appoint a representative. "But this decision has another aspect. The Imperial Economic Committee was, to be set up for the definite purpose of studying means of promoting inter-Im-perial trade, and thus, incidentally, encouraging the production, of manufactured goods in this country, with its army of men and women in enforced idleness, and of food and raw materials of a wide range in oversea parts of the Empire. It does not require much study of statistics to realise the vital part which the Empire overseas ' already playa • in. finding ■work for the men and women of this country. • ' A HASTY DECISION. •'The more carefully and honestly the official returns, of our foreign trade are studied in the light of the unemployment problem,, the more vital importance the encouragement of iuter-Irhperial trade assumes to the workers of this. country. The Imperial Economio Committee was to have studied ways and means of encouraging the sale of British goods in all parts of the Empire. It would have been debarred from interfering with the Junctions of the Governments and Parliaments of the Empire. That it would nevertheless, have played a most useful part in the great task of Empire devel6pment and Empire settlement was generally agreed, although for obvious reasons Canadians regarded" the proposal with less enthusiasm than the other Dominions. If the Government decision is to stand, all the hopes which resided in this most hopeful scheme must now apparently be abandoned, at least for the time. The decision has beri taken hastily, and it has been taken for reasons which it is impossible to fathom." WHAT MIGHT BE PREFERABLE.

When the subject -was discussed at the Imperial Economic! Conference Sir James Allen rather favoured it, and it is gathered that Mr. Massey also did. But Sir James says there is something to be said.on the part of those who are not 'willing.to establish the committee. There is, for instance, the dnnger of any permanont committee becoming stereotyped. Consequently he is more in favour of the establishment of a special committee being set up to discuss any problem of Imperial importance, whenever such problem presents itself for solution. In that way the desired object should be achieved. Sir James gave as an ' instance a, problem that will call for earnest consideraton and solution in the nut far-off future —the importance of considering the efficacy of the individual workman, so that the best may be got out of him, alike for the benefit of himself, for the benefit of those who employ .M"V-w;dJox. ifes *<»i alike Emmi's-ao.

a whole. In many countries there seems to be a tendency to drift towards the eight-hour working day. It i s an j ra . poi-tant economic factor to find. out' for what length of time a man can work to give of his best, and to some extent this may vary according to climatic conditions, lhere are investigations going on in regard to this question, and Sir James considers that the industrial factor offers a fine field for research and examination. If the Empire is to stand up against competitors Aie must have the finest workmen, and workmen who are willing to work. To investigate thoroughly sucn an important problem, he thinks the establishment of a special committee would be more useful than referring the, subject to a permanent body