The Conferences

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 285, 17 November 1923, Page 5

The Conferences

Mr. Massey Interviewed I REVIEW OF DECISIONS. THE URGENCY OF IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.] London, November 15. The Australian and New Zealand ' Press Association had an interview ■ with Mr, Massev on his impressions of th© Conference work. Mr, Massey said h© thought for the first time the attention of th© whole country had been directed towards Imperial preferences. Although h© was sorry th© decks were being cleared for a party fight over the question of Empire preference and socalled free-trade, h© hoped that the • electors would" remember, if it came to a straightout issue, that the whole Empire wag interested in the result, 1 and that Empire interests should come ■ before party interests. He could not help expressing regret I over, th© great delay in establishing Empire wireless. While Britain’s most urgent difficulty at present was the depression, hanging like a cloud over the country, there was plenty of capital available, but its owners were sljv of anything but first-clasg investments, while the European situation considerably reduced Britain’s markets. He regretted the failure to secure the ‘ appointment of a committee to review th© question of reparations. The difficulty over this question showed the ne-» ■ cessity for Britishers making the most of the opportunities for developing Empire markets. Mr. Massey believed the I first instalment of preference encouraged the hope that gradually the Em- ' pire would become self-supporting. He would like to. see the experiment tried of the Imperial Conference meeting in one or more of the important capitals overseas. H© believed that would have a good effect, enabling people to realis e Empire interests,— (A, and N.Z.)