A TOUR CANCELLED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 5, 5 December 1931, Page 6

A TOUR CANCELLED.

The announcement from London that Mr J. H. Thomas, at the request of the Prime Minister, has cancelled his tour of the Dominions will cause a measure of disappointment overseas. In his Ministerial capacity as Secretary for the Dominions, Mr Thomas was shortly to embark upon a visit to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to discuss matters bearing upon the Imperial Conference to be held in Ottawa in July. On the economic side the 1930 Conference in England was barren of results, simply, it is stated, because there was not the preparation beforehand necessary to arrive at an understanding, though the way Avas made A-ery difficult by the unbending attitude of the Labour free traders. The political outlook ha\-ing changed in a remarkable manner since then, Britain having given an emphatic endorsement of the principle of tariffs at the recent election, there is every hope that the OttaAva Conference Avill mark a definite step forward on the road to Empire economic co-operation. The need for preparation in each Dominion for the Conference remains, and this aspect, the principal one, of Mr Thomas’s proposed tour Avas expected to have tangible results. The Prime Minister seemingly recognises that the tour Avas warranted in the circumstances, but pressure of work in the Cabinet, on questions relating to tariffs and Imperial trade especially, have compelled him to ask Mr Thomas to restrict his A-isit to South Africa. While New Zealand and Australia Avill miss the benefit to be de-rii-ed from personal negotiations with the Minister, Canada and South Africa will not suffer this disability. Mr R. B. Bennett, the Canadian Prime Minister, has been visiting London and has had conferences with Mr Thomas, who, in the four days he will spend in South Africa, Avill be busily engaged in exchanging views with the authorities of the Union. The ordinary channels of communication now must suffice for the Commonwealth and New Zealand in making preparation for the Conference.