Imperial Preference

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 199, 8 August 1923, Page 5

Imperial Preference

Economic Conference AN EXTENSION OF PRINCIPLE. PLEA FOR UNPBEJ UDICED CONSIDERATION. i by table.—l'reiM Association.—Copyright.] London, Aug. 7. Th® “Daily Telegraph/ iu an editorial ou the Economic Loniereuc© and preiexvuce, aayj» 1L would be discourteous and loolisu to meet the dominions proposals with a flat negation or the bluut pre-war assertion tuai preieieuce means a tax on food. Since Air. Chamberlain started ins preference campaign the international trade outlook has changed. The war and its aiterinatn have complicated the situation. It would be nelplul to have the case stated anew, in the form in which it presents itself to a fresh mind like Mr. Bruce’s. The “Telegraph” points out; “We already give preference, so the principle is' established and continues. We have to treat the question as one of expediency and determine how far the preferential policy can safely be extended to other goods. We want to know what the dominions would like in the way of preference, also what they are prepared to do in return. Mr. Bruee will, no doubt, tell which Australian exports specially need the assistance of the tariff to overcome the disadvantages of distance and to compete on even terms in our markets with foreign goods that have not so far to come. He can also explain what Australia has done and may do hereafter to give British manufacturers .preference in her highly protected markets. A stream of such facts from the dominions would clear away misconceptions and impart freshness to the discussions.” —(A. and N.Z.) TRADE UNITY. NEW ZEALAND’S PREFERENCE. Wellington, Aug. 7. At a meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce Mr. J. T. Martin moved: “That thi& Chamber subscribe to the proposals of the 1917-18 Imperial Conference to unite the Em pire for the purpose of trade to give preference to commodities produced within the Empire, in furtherance of which New Zealand has already extended the fullest possible preferential treatment to the Motherland. This Chamber now suggests for the favourable consideration of the Prime Minister a recommendation to place before the Imperial Economic Council a proposal to grant New Zealand preference on all her primary products shipped to the United Kingdom as against those from foreign countries.”

“It seems to me the onus is on the commercial community of this country to seriously consider the very important questions that are to be advanced at the forthcoming conference,” said Mr. Martin. “If Chambers throughout the country take the matter up energetically during the next few weeks it may be possible before the Prime Minister’s departure to assist him by a series of helpful resolutions.”