EMPIRE PROBLEMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 263, 5 October 1936, Page 8

EMPIRE PROBLEMS

TRADE AND SHIPPING

DISCUSSION AT WELLINGTON,

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5

During the discussion of shipping problems by the Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire, Sir Thomas Wilford moved a resolution urging that all the Governments concerned take early action in the interests of British trade in the Pacific to preserve this link in the All-Red shipping route. Mr A. G. Lunn (Auckland) seconded tho resolution.

During the discussion, Sir Montague Burton (Leeds) said that if there was a resolution for a Loudon conference he would support it. Mr Endyn Jones (Cardiff) moved an amendment that the whole question of British shipping in the Pacific be deferred until a conference bad been arranged between the countries concerned, including the United States.

The objection was raised that tlnye was no saying where this would lead to, and the amendment was lost and the resolution carried. The conference preceded to deal with inter-imperial trade, an amalgamation of resolutions being moved by Mr Granville Gibson (London). While welcoming and approving the Ottawa Agreements, he maintained and quoted cases to show that they were working to the disadvantage of England and must be reviewed. In that review be insisted that business interests must be represented and not pushed aside as they were when the agreements were made. But they could not wait for readjustments in all cases, and the Governments of the Empire should consider certain eases immediately. A resolution was submitted that the ideal to which the policy of Imperial economic co-operation should be directed is that each partner should extend to others all the advantages that can be offered at a given moment without detriment to the vital requirements of its domestic situation. An earlier message appears on page 6.