The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1934. ECONOMICAL NATIONALISM.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1934, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1934. ECONOMICAL NATIONALISM.

The old order of international '-trading is passing away. -The Enforcement of a ,9 uc jta by Britain on meat imports from overseas is an indication that the* . js't failing, into line..definitely with otner countries to seek a : way! out of tho depression' impasse by organised trading. New • ZtUland • ..after •/. ail?- lias noli so - much ground for complaint about .Britain’s action. To be fair, we must admit that the Dominion started the hall rolling when it increased the exchange rate, and that impost was a direct penalty on British trading. . The moment control is exercised, whether in relation to money or t-ade, there .is a. redundant effect on the controller. The simple I'aw of supply and demand brooks no interference unless under a penalty, and the effect cf planned or ordered trading creates now conditions the end of which is not in sight. The quota system is a deliberate form of economic nationalism to benefit some section of the country where the restriction is impoed. The expiry of free trade has been long delayed but with its final passing there is not any doubt the changed order will impose fresh obligations and a. reorganisation of the methods of trading which served so well over the years, and to the circumstances of which we became-so much accustomed. The change is material, and when laced squarely, presents difficulties which arp serious. The new order, obviously, has ; been forced on the nations. In the previous issue the. trend of nationalism Was examined, and has been iegulated by the new conditions of the world. The chance has been more or less gradual according to the resources of a country. But the nature of world trading impelled all counties to fall within the effect of the changes, the parts of the whole being alike involved. The situation brings us back, first, to the Ottawa Conference, and second, to the London Conference. The first mentioned Was a meeting of the units of Empire to study trading conditions. At that time the pinch was felt, a fact accounting for the assemblage of delegates. An effort was made to evolve an Empire trading agreement, because at that stage it wia,s realised in Great Britain, the Dominions must recognise the trend of affairs and the obligations one to the othe l ’. The London Conference was a realisation of the issue ps affecting tho world at large. But the gathering was abortive, because the United States stood aloof, and appeared to he the key nation of the situation. Events have shown otherwise, and the States have had times not any less troublesome wild momentous than mnnv countries in. difficulties. Actually out of the two conferences little has come, certainly nothing from the London gathering. Ottawa did foreshadow the quota- remedy’' for individual countries which id now arriving, but reliance Was placed in the good nature of the Motherland f! to postpone the evil day, That has not been possible—it is at hand—and Britain bias to aim at her ow n salvation’no less earnestly than other countries. ■ New Zealand—las the Dominions at large—has aeaped largely from the trade and largesse of Britain/ and it can be accepted that the step

now taken is one that is unavoidable. The position iniht be looked at from both sides, and it is for New Zealand now to realise the situation, and ,plan to meet the new order to the best advantage.