TRADE WITHIN EMPIRE

Evening Star, Issue 20556, 7 August 1930, Page 11

TRADE WITHIN EMPIRE

A LIVE TOPIC IH BRITAIN BIG CHANGE IK TARIFF VIEWS [Fes United Press Association.] , WELLINGTON, August 7. i( During recent months the subject of trade within the Empire has leapt into public interest,” said Mr W. Machin, of Christchurch, who returned from England by the Rangitiki. ‘ ‘ Whatever may be said about the motives of Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere, they have undoubtedly' made it a subject of first-rate importance to millions of people at Home. Mr Macbin was dominion representative l at the Congress, of Imperial Chambers of Commerce, held in Lon-' don. . . ‘ ‘ Freetrade within the Empire, reciprocity in trade with the dominions* safeguarding, and kindred questions are* being discussed everywhere in Britain,' earnestly and intelligently, said Air Machin. “There is far more informed discussion, and far less ‘froth? than there was in the Chamberlain protection campaign thirty years’ago. On. safeguarding people in trades wlnc|i have been subjected to it are practically unanimous in favour. Real dismay and appreheaision exists iip the districts concerned at the possibility of the present Government abolishing the duties. . The change in public opinion on tariffs during the last eleven years was remarkable, but there was an enormous mass. of the British public which objected to import duties on raw materials, and a larger one' against food taxes. People were asking for New Zealand products everywhere, due probably to the excellent advertising or the Empire Marketing Board. _ New Zealand butter was not as easily obtainable as it should be, and not sometimes as fresh, while the retail price was not generally related to the wholesale cost.