COMMITTEES ON EMPIRE PROBLEMS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3495, 3 November 1926, Page 9

COMMITTEES ON EMPIRE PROBLEMS

Conference Work Goes on Quietly

PLENARY SESSION ON THURSDAY

[By Electric Cable—Copyright.,, tAust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Tuesday, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, Nov. 1.

Most of tho main items on the Imperial Contei'onco agenda have now been remitted to sub-committees, consequently something approaching a lull marks the opening of the third week.

For instance, there will be no plenary session till Thursday, when Imperial Defence will be debated by the Dominion representatives. After the end of the week, the Conference is likely to begin the discussion on resolutions. The general opinion is that the work will not be completed much before November 10th.

Empire Defence. Having learned all the facts about naval defence last week, and seen a sample of its realities aboard the Retenge on Saturday, the Prime Ministers spent a more or less informal morning at the War Office. The discussion, except for India, had not the same intimate appeal that attached to naval affairs, nevertheless there was a useful exchange of views on standardisation of arms, equipment, and a full disclosure of the latest methods of army movements, which the Premiers will see for themselves on November ISth. Aerial Defence will be studied at tire Air Ministry to-morrow, as the last Instalment or practical enlightment before the full debate.

Lord Balfour’s Imperial Relations sub-committee met this afternoon with no variation from the spirit which justified earlier assurances that "everything is going well.’ ’ Another matter of interest to-day was the mention at the Communications sub-committee of Sir James Connelly’s Anglo-Australian fast ship scheme. Though it is really a unit matter, confined chiefly to Australia, it has been remitted to the sub-com-mittee, presumably by Australia because of its bearing on the general problem of more rapid transit of the Empire’s perishable goods. It is expected that the scheme will form tho text of a special section of the committee’s report to the full Conference. The Wireless Chain. The same also discussed Empire wireless, incidental to which it is understood that Mr. Bruce mentioned Australia’s wish to control her own beam station in England, but indications are that he will have to light out the case separately with tile Post-master-General. since the other Dominions have accepted post office control. Compulsory Wool Statistics, Mr Bruce and Mr Coates are closely watching tho proposal being discussed by the Economic sub-commlt-tce for the compulsory periodic issue of statistics of supplies and consumption of wool, including dealers and texile users’ holdings. It may be taken for granted that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa will not accept the plan, unless there are guarantees of international observation through a body similar to the Rome Inter-national Grain Bureau. The same problem arises in connection with cold storage statistics, because while it is easy to ascertain the British ports storages, and the Dominions will probably be willing to follow New Zealand's, system of regularly issuing figures of shipments and carcases in store .these would bo valueless unless statistics were available for North and South America. The activities of the Economic subcommittee have been asked to devote special attention to the Inter-nation-al aspect of this question.

BRITAIN’S FISCAL SYSTEM.

WILL NOT DESERT FREE TRADE (Received Tuesday, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 2. The “Daily Chronicle" says: "Mr. Amery will do no good service to the Empire if he encourages the Dominion Premiers to expect that wo will alter our fiscal system to enable us to give preferences. Happily the Prime Ministers are well acquainted with the tree trade convictions of Britain. Our welfare as a manufacturing and exporting country depends absolutely upon our capacity to buy in the cheapest markets, and carry on trade with all the world. Mr. Bruce truly said that the more wo are able to buy from the Dominions, the more they will buy from us, but if wo desert (ho free trade system, wo should defeat the very ends toward which preference is directed, as we should reduce our purchasing power. It is not good Imperialism for Tory Ministers to allow their longings for the protection of British industry to masquerade in the guise of Imperial goodwill." EMPIRE IS STILL SOUND. BOLSHEVISTS MIS-READ THE SIGNS. LONDON, Nov. 1. The Empire Producers’ Association gave a luncheon to iho delegates to the Imperial Conference at the GoldSmiths’ Hall, the Duke of Sutherland presiding. Mr. Mackenzie King, who is Buttering from a chill, was (ho only important absentee. The Duke of Sutherland, referring to the plenitude of hospitality, said

he knew the delegates’ hearts were in the right place, but what about their livers ? He said that everyone had listened with the keenest interest to Mr. Bruce’s emphasis on the economic factor of the Empire relationships. Mr. Coates was a worthy successor to Mr. Massey; he had been truly called the "managing-director of Now Zealand.” The Bolshevists, in believing the Empire was on the verge of dissolution, were wrong in this as in every other tenet of theii detestable creed. "Whore the treasure is there shall the heart bo also.” The Empire’s treasure was essentially in production and trade. Tho Duke of Sutherland concluded with an unperceived pun, saying the necessity was realised for the development of aviation on a higher plane. Col. L. C. Amery, Secretary for tho Dominions, in proposing tho toast of tho guests, stressed the importance of inter-imperial economic co-operation. Tho solution of that problem would bo tho master key to solve all tho others. The Empire needed effective schemes of publicity, marketing, organisation and research. Col. Amery said thdt personally ho believed in a policy of Imperial preference aiming at freer trade within the Empire. So far wo had not had Iho courage to take arms against a sea of trouble and by opposing it, end it, but wo should. Mr. Coates prophesied the possibility of development in intcr-Imporiai trade and stressed tho value of cooperative marketing. Ho painted out that the temperament of New Zealand was opposed to minimum price fixing. Mr. Munroo, Mr. Bruce, thaMaharajah of Burdwan and Mr. Hoy also replied.