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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1074, 22 July 1924, Page 5

Speaking at the annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at Welling-ton-to-day with refoionce to the question of free trade and protection, Mr W. J. Poison said: “The decision of the British electors is an avowal that they do not want preference from us, at all events that preference from us is not worth troubling themselves about._ We may, therefore, with a clear conscience, seek to increase our foreign markets bv means of tariff bargains with other countries if we wish. Markets are vital, of course, and with this mandate from the Mother Conn try to guide us we should have little hesitation in seeking those markets, and if we examine the position it is easy to convince ourselves that wo are right in taking such a course. Markets mean population. Population m6ans strength, and so we may increase the power of the Empire and achieve our ends by the very plan we have hitherto refused to consider. I imagine that the course the Mother Country is adooting will tend to increase immigration, of which also we may take advantage by fostering our markets abroad.”