QUESTION OF PREFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1924, Page 4

QUESTION OF PREFERENCE.

STATEAIKNT BY AIR AfASSET. WELLINGTON, Aln.v G. “With tegnrd to Empire preference,” said ALr Alassoy to-day, “which is naturally attracting a good deal of attention both in Britain and overseas. I cannot help thinking that the course of action which is being followed in the British Parliament will be very

disappointing to British citizens in the overseas countries of the Empire. It will certainly not be viewed by them •is in the best interests of the British Empire as a whole. T do not suggest for one moment that the dominions have ever done more than their duty, but for all that, I cannot Help thinking that the treatment which is now being meted out to them is not what they expected or deserved. ‘•Take the ease of this country. New Zealand gives preference in her Customs Luilf on 425 articles imported

from Great- Britain. At present Great Britain gives preference to nothing imported from New Zealand, and apparently refuses to consider any propose in that direction. According to my way of thinking, this is' not in accordance will) the true Empire spirit. It is not giving the deminions assistance in anv movement towards the attainment of a self-supporting Empire. I nfortunately, the lessons of the war have thorn' ' pait-lv forgotten. What was agreed tu at the last Koouomie Conference. and recommended to the Bri-ti-.h Government, wrs hut a very 'small instalment of what many people who recollect the situation at the outbreak of the Great War would like to see. At- that time it was brought home to ns very forcibly that we had bean reiving 100 much upon foreign countries IV,- nmiiv of the commodities essential t - „ur overvdav life, which should have |,cen produced within the Empire itself To us, in the overseas countries, it scents inimical to the Empire's interests that large sums of British money should go to foreign countries tor the purchase of commodities which, with priv'cr <*n -uuniiicmoiit. *••’»» In* luv.tlw- ,„| in atom.lance by British citizens on the uiioeeupied lands available in our overseas countries. There is much uncniplovmeiit in Great Britain at present. Steps should he taken to bring about an improvement, hut I fool that our uiioeeupied territories will not he peopled, nor the Empire's inclustiml saoreiim-V restored or maintained, by policy which encourages the purchase of a large portion of our re'iuiiement.s in foreign countries.

U .M v i*'• *** nssi.sliiijr 1,, ptonmte Empire prci'eicnri- hasbeen tliiit every ilrm so arranged fur is •>>>- oilier tie to in keeping lilt* E'Upire together. Wind is lm]ip«ninir now will lint nll'crt our loyiilt.y to the Kmpire in the very slightest. I’ritish we ore and British we intend to remain. 1 hope thill .some day our fellow citizens in liritaiii will come round to a hotter wnv <if thinking and learn to look at such matters with an Kmpiie spirit rather than from the nmrower outlook of what will Miit some particular section of the community.

‘■f cheerfully'iiilmit thin the British (toveVnenint has never attempted to impose taxation upon any ol our products which were being nhieed in their lent - kets. (hi the whole, il:itnili kin heeu o„r best market and 1 believe will continue to he our la-si market, hut wlmt is happening now is encouraging people to think rheut the possibility of free trade within the Kmp.ire. That may not he possible inst yet. hill I think the time has when we should sen-oll-1 v consider whether something might; not he done i-i have tree trade within the Empire in foodstufls and raw material, ft is possible to have a'certain amount of preference without

increasing prices, became anything in the way of a reliable market will • ireatly im -i-ase inmlm-tion in the dominions I-i bring the supply up to the dent.mil. at the atm- time providing more cash for Ih dam's best customers t„ purchase the goods required 3mm | admit lhat the British I arliament has a perfect right to Heat tl,o rommm-ndn!ions ol the Impel ml C-mfereme as they think proper, but , (Pi,,!, th.it the rt-eomiii'.-udaliolis of the last conference were winthv n more favourable consideration limn Hint Which scums to I- the fate in store tor them.'' ’