EMPIRE PREFERENCE

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1946, Page 7

EMPIRE PREFERENCE

LONDON, February 12. Replying to a question whether, in view of " the assistance rendered to Britain by the Dominions during the present food crisis, the Government would give an assurance that, it would favourably consider the maintenance of Imperial preference to the Dominion countries, Mr. Attlee acknowledging the Dominions’ efforts said 'that the Government would take every opportunity to express its gratitude more fully. It had been made clear already that there was no question of the reduction of Imperial preference, except as part of the mutually satisfactory arrangements of all parties concerned. The questioner, Mr. de Labere said that never before had there been such a wonderful response from the Dominions to the needs of the Mother Country. Mr. Attlee said that was what he was -endeavouring, perhaps inadequately, to say. Unless we get a larger output of coal we shall be in an extremely dangerous position for the next two months, said Sir Stafford Cripps. Never before was every ton of coal raisable more urgently required. A shortage of coal could jeopardise Britain’s whole national economy.