BRITISH POLICY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 60, 12 March 1934, Page 9

BRITISH POLICY

SOUND PRINCIPLES

"A STRIKING EXAMPLE"

Speaking at a luncheon of the New Zealand Club today Sir John Sandemaii Allen, M.P. for Liverpool, said that it was his last opportunity of addressing a New Zealand gathering, and at the risk of repetition he would can attention to some salient features in the history of Great Britain, particularly in the last few years, when Britain had a crisis of her own, long before the world crisis. Ho then outlined some of Britain's recent difficulties, and showed how she had faced them successfully, politically- and otherwise-. England had set an example for all parts of tho Empire to stand by, and that was to support and strengthen the existing Government how and where they could. In New Zealand there was what was known as a National Government, and the speaker urged that it should be wisely strengthened; and lie expressed the opinion that any change involving the adoption of fancy theories at the present moment would be simply folly and disaster. Ho alluded again to the recent happenings in Britain, and dwelt at somo length upon the shipping difficulty. Ho stated that they were fighting against heavy odds caused by shippmg subsidies granted in different countries—in some probably for military reasons. The people" of Britain' were determined not to let that go on, but the complications were so great and the position was so delicate that they cpuld not rush to conclusions in dealing with these matters. He could see where the Dominions could help the Mother Country, and he pointed out that there were ships trading between Australia and America and between New Zealand and America which were carrying passengers between Australia and New Zealand. America, he stated, would not -allow coastwise shipping to carry passengors, except oji American steamers. He referred to the fact that one Dominion actually subsidised tho ships of a foreign country in respect of one service. Sir John then dealt with the question of dairy produce, and pointed out that no quota had yet been imposed. The Home Government had adopted a policy of restricting output, and he defended the action of the Imperial Government in giving due consideration to the fair claims of the farmers of Great Britain. Sir John said he felt sure that the people of New Zealand, Who were most loyal, would give due consideration to the course taken by the" Home Government. He, like many others, hated quotas, but he had, like many others, the greatest respect for the judgment of his Majesty's Government, which had, of course, to take into account the interests of its own farmers and also its trade with outside countries. The position had to be "faced, and the wisest course adopted in the old and sound British spirit. . , Sir 'John said he regretted that he was about to leave Ne,w Zealand, and he expressed the conviction that" the people of this country realised tho advantages they, possessed in being a part of the British Empire and in being of British stock. He concluded by saying that, he was. sure the people here realised the advantages of all parts of (he Empire standing together, especially at the present juncture.