EMPIRE PRODUCERS DEFEND TRADE PREFERENCE SYSTEM

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1948, Page 6

EMPIRE PRODUCERS DEFEND TRADE PREFERENCE SYSTEM

LONDON, October 9.

The British Empire Producers Association to-day sent a statement to delegates to the Dominion Prime Ministers’ Conference, expressing concern at the possible effects on Commonwealth trade of the Western Union and European Recovery Programme. The organisation, which represents primary producers and processing industries in the Dominions and colonies says: “There are already disquieting instances of adverse effects on trade among the Dominions, coloies, and the United Kingdom. While the association recognises the necessity for closer ties between the Western European countries, anything which can legitimately be described as a Customs Union, involving free trade or even uniform low tariffs between the participating countries, would have disastrous consequences for Commonwealth industry and trade, leading to serious unemployment and a lower living standard. . .. “The only sound economic policy for the British Commonwealth countries is to maintain and strengthen the ties between them by the. development of the policy inaugurated in Ottawa in 1932. The policy of Empire preference is vital to the continued existence of the Commonwealth as a significant force in world affairs.”