Empire Trade and Shipping

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 237, 7 October 1936, Page 13

Empire Trade and Shipping

PROBLEMS DISCUSSED AT COMMERCE CONFERENCE,

Per Press Association,. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. During the discussion of shipping problems by the Congress of Chumbors of Commerce of the British Empire, Sir Thomas Wilford moved a resolution urging that all the Governments concerned tako early action in the interests of British trade in tho Pacific to preserve this' link in tho Ail-Bed shipping route. Mr. A. G. Lunu (Auckland) seconded tho resolution.

During the discussion, Sir Montague Burton (Leeds) said that if there was a resolution for a London conference he would support it. Mr. Emlyn Jones (Cardiff) moved an amendment that tho' whole question of British shipping in the Paciliu bo deferred until a conference had been arranged between the countries concerned, including the United Stales. The objection was raised that there was no saying where this would lead to, and the amendment was lost and the resolution carried.

The conference proceeded to deal with inter-imperial trade, an amalgamation of resolutions being moved by Mr. Granville Gibson (London). While welcoming and approving tho Ottawa Agreements, he maintained and quoted cases to show that they wero working to tho disadvantage of England and must be reviewed. In that review he 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 tho Empire should consider certain cases immediately. A resolution was submitted that the ideal to which the poliey of Imperial economic co-operation should be directed is that each partner ehouid extend to others all the advantages that can be offered at a given moment without detriment to the vital requirements of its domestic situation.

In tho afternoon the clause of the inter-imperial trade group of resolutions was altered to a form in which it met with general acceptance for discussion, the demand for the unlimited entry of the primary produce of the Dominions into Great Britain being changed to the minimising of restrictions. Preference to Britain’s foreign trade was deleted and the Congress proceeded to deal with tho resolution with the clause so amended. The resolution, whilst wholeheartedly _ supporting the principles of economic cooperation underlying bhe Ottawa agreements, set forth certain courses to be uraged on his Majesty’s Governments in giving practical effect to that principle. A long debate revealed a great diversity of opinion but the resolution was eventually carried with two dissentients.

A resolution was carried strongly recommending tho Governments of Britain and the Dominions that at the time of reviewing the Ottawa trade agreements they should invite the cooperation of expert advisers . who should bo representative of the primary and secondary industries and Chambers of Commerce.

Another resolution was carried strongly advocating an inter-ehango of ministerial visits before tho bilateral agreements which ihad been suggested were concluded.