BRITAIN'S CONGRESS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 2762, 2 October 1923, Page 5

BRITAIN'S CONGRESS.

OPTIMISTIC FORECISTS OF RESULTS.

WAR AND UNEMPLOYMENT BANISHED.

"PANDORA OF PRODUCERS." FRENCH EXECUTIONER.

[By Electric Cable—Copyright]

[Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Monday, 7.30 p.m.)

LONDON, Oct. 1.

fllr.W Beach Thomas, in the "Daily Express" says: "Britain's Congress as It might be called, opens to-day to pool the Ideas of the Empire, which might bo entirely self-sufficient and eelf-supporting. If we can properly organise the nationhood of the British Commonwealths, the peace of the world would result. British wealth would abound and unemployment would disappear, and security of life and livelihood would be assured."

in outlining the various Dominions' special needs, he says: " Australia is the Pandora of primary producers, producing so much wool, meat, fruit and corn that she finds the market insufficient, though she still has acres tin developed and room for another 50,000,000 people." The statesmanlike and ingenious suggestion Is made that Britain can give Australia a bigger market, and at the same time benefit her own consu mors by wiping out of date free trade or protection, and talk of the establishment of a National purchase board, with some control over . the middleman's profits, giving the board power to buy on a large scale and to co-operate sympathetically with nations of the British Commonwealth. The latest estimate is that the middleman is taking from the consumer 7. r > million sterling annually above a fair profit. If Australian meat, for example, had any sort of preference over Argentine, Australia would enjoy a new prosperity and vastly increased purchasing power. Professor Hewins, writing in tho "iiMnancial News," is of the opinion tliat extended Imperial preference is the key to the success of the Imperial Conference and the future of Britain herself. Britain cannot look for the restoration of her trade supremacy to tho immediate extension of foreign trade. If she enters into full rela« tions with the. rest of the Empire, the basis of the economic principles upon which the Empire was founded, she will be in a position to obtain fairer conditions for British goods all over the world. MOST VITAL ISSUE. FINDING WORK FOR IDLE HANDS. (Received Monday, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 1. The "Daily Express," in an editorial, says the Imperial Conference must solve the problem of unemployment dn Britain "If it fails to solve that, nothing else- matters. Four precious years have been wasted on barren politics about reparations and indemnities. Our politicians have remembered Europe, but have forgotten Britain. Let the Imperial Conference forget Europe, and remember Britain. Without Britain at work, the Empire will be a body without a heart, i It would slowly decline and fall like the Roman Empire. Therefore, the Dominions' fate is bound up with Britain. We cannot develop our Imperial heritage by staring at the European kaleidoscope hoping to find a pot of gold at the foot of the Ruhr rainbow. Europe is a warshop, not a work shop. Let us make the Empire a workshop, not a warshop." The 'Daily Chronicle' in an editorial fays the Imperial Conference will consider preference in a totally different atmosphero from the Conference oi 1907. Since then, the world's economic conditions have greatly changea through the war. If the Dominions can commend schemes to improve ana develop trade, which would relieve burdens here as well as better the Dominions' conditions, the horizon would be cleared. The Liberals do not agree with Mr. Asquith that tne ideal of a self-supporting Empire Is a mischievous chimera. Doubtless sucn an ideal will not be realisable for many years, but strengthening ties binding the League of British nations their maintenance as civilising Pacific influence is dear to the hearts or members of all parties in Britain.

GREAT FOREIGN INTEREST.

ALL, EYES ON LONDON.

LONDON, October 1,

Mr Baldwin's opening speech at the Imperial Conference will be delivered privately and handed to the press stewards afterwards. It is understood that a British Minister will be appointed to act as press Informant.

Lord d'Alrernon may attend on Wednesday to make a statement on the position of Germany.

The "Daily Telegraph" diplomatic correspondent says that never before lias the foreign diplomatic world avowed as keen an interest in the Imperial Conference as at present. To 'he United States and Japan the Problems looming largest are future Imperial economic ties, the naval balance in the Pacific, and the questions of immigration and the colour bar. European Powers, both Allied and neutral, are chiefly concerned with the impetus the ; ominion Premiers might conceivably impart to the isolationist movement that is already affecting some Home political circles.