FAMILY PROBLEMS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11325, 1 October 1930, Page 5

FAMILY PROBLEMS

CONFEBEXU

•EMPIRE UNIT® WORKING LN COMMON INTERESTS,

IMPERIAL AND KCONYJ3IIO CONFERENCES.

DOM IN lONS’ SECRETARY' s ■ VIEWS.

MAIN ISSUES OUTLINED

(British Official vVireleSs.)

RUGBY’, Sept. 29

The main issues before the Imperial Conference were discussed to-day in an Interview by the Dominion-. Secretary, Air. J. H. Tiionms, who, is one of the United Kingdom delegates. At the outset, Alv. Thomas cm-., phasised that .the Imperial Conference was a family gathering. While .it -was. true..that each had its separate interests, all were, working .together iii the common interest, ami ill pursuit of common ideals. .Delegates, therefore, came into the conference to exchange views, to consult together, and to try to work out tlie solutions of various problems, confronting them. “In the field of inter-linpena.l relations the broad principle of constitutional status ]nis already been settled,” lie said. “The Imperial Conference of 192(> set out a definition of the position and mutual relation of tin* group of self-governing communities composed of Great Britain and tin: Dominions in terms which are. well known. The report of that conference also mode- plain how vital was the principle of co-opera-tion if the British Empire was to achieve, its positive ideal, and it lurtlier placed.on record that then* were certain points arising out of the present legal position which appeared to require further detailed consideration. It recommended that a special body he set up to- consider these questions. “Accordingly last autumn a special conference on the operation nl Dominion legislation and merchant shipping legislation was held. Briefly, the object . of- the recommendations of that special conference is to move certain restrictions which exist, or appear to ext-'-t. legallv on the powers of the Dominion Parliaments on the ground that such restrictions are now constitutionally out of date. 'I he precise terms of their recommendations will form one of lhe main issues for consideration at- the forthcoming conference. “Tt is felt in some quarters tnat (he existence of these legal I onus affords an obstacle to * free constitutional development, and that in order to secure free and full co-oper-ation between equal, partners in the British commonwealth, ii is desiraUle first of all. to mafic if quite clear that- the* oversea Dominions are, m form as well as in Jact.- in no way suhordinate to tins country.

WORLD PEACE OBJECT IV E. “Next, the broad division of the agenda covers questions connected with foreign policy and defence, finder this heading lhe conference will, no doubt, consider wbat further nuvance can be made in the inlernatlona! field towards securing the general peace of the world. 'I his is the supreme object to which the efforts of tlie present Government have been devoted since it took office-; both by means of developing the use of arbitration instead of war. as instanced b.v adherence to the- optional clause, and !>v special attention to disarmament. ins instanced m the negotiation*. of the London Naval Treaty o' this. year.

"Nat lira!!v. a-s this great question is of vital importance, it- :* m the interests of the British commonwealth of nations’ that separate members should move forward as they have so far moved forward, and. moreover, the influence which such joint action on their part can exert greatly exceeds the influence winch can be exerted by one of them acting alone.

IMI'OKTANCE OF ECONOAIK

“To turn now to clie Economic Conference; it is not u conferenceto. which we go with a predetermined policy to ho pursued ut all costs, with the idea that success or failure is to bo measured by success or otherwise in the. pursuit' of that policy. Our object is. in an atmosphere or goodwill, to consider together what can best he removed, so far as tins governments can remove them, nuc whilst tile -Government can do a good deal, tliere- arc many important tilings that the Government cannot, 'do. can help to create conditions in which real progress can lie made. They can also help remove obstacles: they can inspire a spirit of confi.denee and lend guidance to the efforts of individuals, but wo must, not forget flint it is on the elforts of industry itself that- economic prosperity--of the commonwealth lar : o-ely depends, and one of our chief tasks will he to find means to encourage those ellorts and to ensure that they shall prove fruitful. BLACK TRADE OUTLOOK. “The conference meets a.I a time when the economic world outlook is dark, darker, indeed, than it has been for generations —vet it is .lust the fact that our economic difficulties are so grave that the work ot m>'> conference is so eagerly anticipated, and so much expected from it. tor my part, I shall start as an optimist. ’ ’ EMPIRE COUNT. Several inter-imperial questions which it is thought likely may dm examined at the conference were informally discussed by Mr. Thomas. Pie said the project for wetting TP an Empire Court to winch individual units, of the Empire might have access for the settlement of differences that were internal and domestic to the British Empire, would probably be discussed at. the conference.

•EiLUHT OF SECTION OF JON TO ALL. "When Mr. Tiiomn.s invited questions to which ho reserved the not. to reply, an American, asked would the conference, affirm the right of secession. .. f'Thovo would he no question ol it,” said. Mr. Thomas. “No one w«n question anyone’s right to secede, hut if vou said you had the right to shoot vourself I might argue with vou about the -wisdom of; doing so. Recession is more important to some of you than: to those attending Hu. conference because this is the. m-" time I have heard of it. • , t Mr. Thomas denied an elaho reference to.economic,issues, on nin a; questioner,sought a.-statemejit Jti relation to protective dutie.s and fereuces. Mr. i Thomas contented ln.n»if iw. ■-*?«.* the economic ldo of the Lanp it bound to be discussed. ||p^|sf|Ss A misguided, AimtraJian. asked; had in relation to Bomm.on that bo l.ud n< lrta “Sooner y ottnbuted that ?i ’fTlWn “SkK" 1 t ’it woo raib- ' Mr. Soullin 1»<1 not Sul to i.. two ■ long intomcws w-

him, but “you -may-‘take it I "'ill not allow you . to. come hero and bo Air. Seullin’s deputy.'’ Tliis quiet rebuke causer a' roar or laughter, and put' a summajy close to the discussion. ' ’ ■■ Air. Thomas was asked whether Alx Graham’s adhesion to the La,rill truce at Geneva had not rather committed Britain to no duties and rather prejudiced the conference discussion. Air. Thomas said he l ( tad not heard so though lie had hud Jong chats with most of the Prime A 1 misters. PRIVY COUNCIL APPEALS. An American sought enlightenment on a possible Irish Free State attempt to aoolisli Privy Council a 13peals. Mr. Thomas: The question is one affecting the appeal court within, the Empire. There will be 'discussed tho creation of an Empire appeal court, which will dual with the r.mpire's internal and domestic diJl'orences, rather than by a. tribunal (.Touted by ;an outside body . bothering with Empire domestic allairs. I have I,lie strongest grounds for the belief that some such tribunal wiiJ emerge from tin 1 conference to .supplement the. existing machinery. Air. Thomas said the whole problem of 'disarmament and the London Naval Treaty would be discussed. He admitted that tho quest-ion ol the conference being held entirely m camera had not been iscftlod, and would lie discussed with the Prime Ministers 10-niorrow. ECO NO At it: issues. Talk liiially turned to economics, on' which he was asked had Britain ;.i definite proposal to submit. Air. Thomas said then; would be a uni, frank, and five discussion ol tim position in which all would iind iheniselve.s. The questioner: Has Britain uoluin.g but’the pool? Mr. Thomas: You have known mo long enough to expect otherwise, ,nIc.ss everyone is going lo make some contribution thereto "‘c will all drown. Pool questions, bulk purclia.se-:. and an import board arc already ori the agenda. I have net heard of any Dominion requesting new preferences.

I)FLEGATES ASSF.M I'I.LV

CONFERENCE T 9 OPFN TO-AIOR ROW.

SIX PRIM I! AM.N ISI'FBS

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. Sept. 29

'With the return. Irom Geneva o' the Foreign Secretary. Air. Arthui Henderson, all tlie United Kingdom delegates to the .Imperial G’onterencc are now in.. London. I his v.ili fie the first occasion on wliich the British Labor Government lias pari imputed in an Imperial ('uidorenc'. Four vears age. when the last was held. AH'. Baldwin was in, power. The Irish Free State delegation will arrive to-day. and the Canadian delegation t o-n io r row. At AYednesdav’s opening. Alinisters. including six Prime Ministers Worn «'i rr lit cell ntries separate'! at > ae-r widest points by 15,C00 miles, wilt haie assembled to diseti'-s questions of common interest on swell mutters a< inter-1 niperuil relations, foreign policy sincl cUilcivco. mu. onomie problems. Tho delegates mpresent the United Kingdom, the IrFree State. Australia. Canauu. New Zealand. India. South Africa, and Newfoundland. Mr. AiacLonahl will preside. and wi!l_ deliver an inaugural address at A\ ednesday s opening. The proceedings, will he private, .1 full report being issued afterwards. Most of the conference work will ho done by committees appointed 10 consider specific subjects.

0 V ERSE AS. SETTLEMENT PREFERABLE TO THE- DOLE SYSTEM COMMISSIONER LAMB'S VIEWS nr P.A by Elee. Tot. Copyright) (Received Sept. 30. 11.-o p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30. Group settlement is a way out for the present- generation. declares Commissioner Lamb, in a memorandum on migration drawn up for consideration by the Imperial Conference in. which be states: “Successful settlement is only attainable if it is helpful to the individual, acceptable to Britain and advantageous to the Dominions.” He explains that group settlement does not mean mcic transplantation from a British district. but district settlement overseas in groups of men. women and children. with experienced oversight. This is preferable to individual, haphazard settlements and is good economies. Its social and ethical advantages are obvious. He emphasises the importance of hotter distribution of women throughout the Empire in view of their excess by two million in Great Britain, while .men. outnumber women in some parts of the Empire. Commissioner Lamb suggests that, in view of the necessity for a ten or twenty year programme, an amendment of the Empire Settlement Act in the direction of -modification of 50-50 finance, permitting Britain to bear the whole or part of the cost of approved schemes with an Empire Settlement Board of five appointed to carry out the Act. “There has been overmuch talk about the high cost of emigration lit the past”, he says. “We should settle as many unemployeds as possible in agricultural regions. The Dominions do not worry overmuch about the cost, remembering that, from the long views of Empire settlement, the experiment will pay better than paying out £1.000,(100 weekly in doles to unemployed. Having settled with their families overseas, their produce should be rendered independent of market fluctuations until they get upon their feet. Ibis 'means a subsidy if a- product falls below a certain point”.

Commissioner Lamb expects to discuss the subject with Mr Thomas. \ Morning Post editorial, commends Lanilv'S scheme and suggests the revival of chartered companies.

BRITISH TRADE

FORTH V AfVR.KETd GAN NOT j>,E SACRIFICED.

FJ’.A. by Elec- Teh Copyrighf) (Received Seoteipbor Td. .5 p.m A LONDON. Sept. 211.

Tim Xevvs-Ohroinehi opines tluij:. the Liberals,mav make a mistake d tltev'"'-assum'd that nothing can he rlone to develop Imperial, markets. '“We.'cannot- afford.” it snvs. “to sacrifice iiur .vast .OweL'n I fade to a, Possible >hvpan.sioii of Dominion trade. • Tbit that i« not to sav that we ought not do all in ’onv newer to extend inter -Imperial, trade.”