EMPIRE FREE TRADE.

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 52, 11 December 1929, Page 7

EMPIRE FREE TRADE.

FARMERS' UNION IDEAL. STRONG ADVOCACY. Strong advocacy of free trade within the Empire as a means ot replacing Britain in the position of foremost exporter among the nations of the world marked a speech delivered by Mr. G. Hodgson at the meeting of the Kaitaia branch ot the N.Z Fatmers’ Union last Thursday night. Voicing the union’s ideal—free trade within the Empire—the speech was received with applause. “One of the things which the Farmers’s Union is striving for is free trade within the Empire,’’ began Mr. Hodgson. “It is an ideal which some say will never be attained, a thing which some say will never be accomplished. It is interesting to note from time to lime the steps being made, backwards or forwards, in what the union is advocating.” At the outbreak of the war, the speaker stated, Britain held foremost place amongst nations ot the world in regard to goods exported. He had recently come across a piece of disquieting news which disclosed the startling and disagreeable fact that for the first six months of 1929 Germany’s exports for the first time exceeded those of Britain, which had dropped back to third place. The war had given America her chance to get ahead, tor that country had been able to sit back and profit while Britain fought, and America had built up her in. dustries and overtaken the export trade when most of Britain’s fac. tones were producing munitions. Help Of Tariff Barrier. “Now we find that Germany is also ahead,” said Mr. Hodgson. “For us, in this far-flung portion of the Empire, it is necessary to ' help as much as possible to again t put Britain in her place as the foremost exporting country of the world. The Farmers’ Union contends that the way to do this is to adopt the system of tree trade within the Empire. That would mean the erection of tariff barriers against the importation of all goods from foreign coun. tries. I am pleased to see that some Dominions are moving in this direction.”

Africa A Black Spot

Among the Dominions one of the black spots was South Africa. There appeared to be a foreign element striving to throw out British rule, while the British people were striving to keep within the Empire ; and if the other Dominions pulled in with the Empire it would be incentive to those in South Africa to throw in their lot with Britain and overthrow the foreign element. Australia at the present time was strangling herself, in the speaker’s opinion. She was trying to build up her industries and increase her wealth by exports, but although she had a name for having the highest tariff wall her secondary industries were not prosperous. Unemp loy ment was rife and there was industrial unrest. He did not consider the Labour Party in Australia was the best party to foster free trade within the Empire. Canada was one of the bright spots at the present time Supporters Of Free Trade. “I am very pleased indeed to see that our member, Capt. Rushworth, is a supporter of free trade within the Empire,” stated Mr. Hodgson, “Lord Bledisloe, the newly-appointed Governor-Gen-eral, is also a strong supporter. “I bring these facts before you just to show that tree trade within tile Empire is not dead,” con-

eluded Mr. Hodgson. “Although we hear very little of it in this portion of the country, I am quite certain it is something we will get. It will be a benefit not only to ourselves but to the whole of the Mother Country, and will build up the Empire, the Empire of the world.” (Applause).