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Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 22 June 1923, Page 5

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4 POSSIBILITIES DISCUSSED. VIEWS OF Mil ELMSLIE. j (BY TWr.EGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION ) . PALMERSTON N,, June 21. An important announcement on the subject ot preference was made by Mr IN. Elmsiie, H.M. Trade Commissioner to Mr F. J, Nathan (Mayor ot Palmerston North) at the annual smoke concert of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association. He said the questLoa of preference was to be considered at the LVonomic Conference, and he did not think there was a strong probability of spying the Dominions direct preference on produce and raw material. The Old Country had built up its industries on cheap production, and the whole feeling of th© country was that marketing costs could be kept down. If duties were placed on foodstuffs it would raise the cost of living, resulting in increased wages and a higher cost of production. Mr Elmslie did not think the country would stand this, and some other way must be found. From information in his possession he assured them that the will to give them what they sought existed, and th« people of Britain were anxious to find some way to meet New j Zealand without imposing actual duties lon foodstuffs.