EMPIRE AFFAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1923, Page 5

EMPIRE AFFAIRS

CONFERENCE’S DECISIONS

(Reuter.) LONDON, November 8. The Economic Conference unanimously passed a resolution re-affirm-ing its sense of the importance of overseas settlement. It also passed a resolution affirming the principle that in all government contracts preference should be given to goods produced in the Empire, and that as far as practicable, the material used in carrying out contracts should be Empire products. i The Conference further passed a resolution urging the British Government to circulate up-to-date information of the progress of the Burney airship proposals and to prepare draft procedure designed to secure rapid and and extensive interchange of information in regard to civilian aeronautics with a view to general adoption by Empire Governments. The Conference considered the Food Material Committee’s report which decided the methods, firstly, subsidies, secondly, import licenses, i.hi.'dly. stabilisation of prices were alt practicable, as difficulties for any Government interfering in trade were almost un surmountable.

SMUTS AND WORLD SITUATION. (Reuter.) LONDON, November 8. The Imperial Conference has finished, and the Economic Conference concludes to-morrow. It is expected that full reports will be issued on Saturday. The postponement of General Smuts’ departure for South Africa for one week is believed to be due to advices from the. Continent indicating the possibility of General Smuts’ effectively contributing to the solution of the Continental imbroglio. He is co-operating closely with the Foreign Office, and is believed also to be in touch with Continental matters and is entitled to speak' on behalf of respective Governments. FEDERATION PROPOSALS. LONDON, November 7. Mr Bruce’s reference to Empire Federation at the Overseas League's dinner may be regarded as -in indication that the whole question ->f Empire Federation, with its /coicllary of some form of an Empire Parliament has been very i ho.’ouglny debated at the Conference, although nothing has yet been made public on the subject. PRESS UNION CONGRESS. LONDON, November 8. The Council of the Empire I’ress Union has notified Mr its cordial acceptance of the invitation to its members attending the third Imperial Press Conference in Australia, 1925, to visit New Zealand