FOSTERING EMPIRE TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16620, 17 August 1917, Page 6

FOSTERING EMPIRE TRADE.

VIEWS OF FARMERS UNION.

The question of Empire trading came before the executive of the Farmers Union yesterday in the form of a circular which had been drawn up by the president for distribution among the various branches of the union, with' a view to obtaining the opinion of the farming community throughout the province. The circular stated that free trade with all the world was the ideal system, as under it commodities would be produced where they could reach the consumer at the lowest cost, out departure from the system might be justified on political or other grounds. It was pointed out that the chief commodities imported by Britain were foodstuffs, and it would be impossible for Britain to give preference to the Empire countries in respect to foodstuffs, as so much food was imported to England from foreign countries. Therefore, so far as New Zealand was concerned, the chief commodities left open for dealing with would-be wool, flax, and gum, and, as the wool imported to Britain was practically all produced within the Empire, and the flax and gum from New Zealand was exported principally to foreign countries, little could be done by Britain in the way of preference to the Dominion. On the side of New Zealand, it was stated, preferential trading could be applied by: — (1) Raisin* the duties on foreign goods; (2) lowering the duties against the Empire: or (3) imposing duties on the export of goods to foreign countries. "

The conclusion arrived at by the circular was that the only way in which New Zealand could benefit Empire trading was to lower the existing tariffs against tho Empire, but that, outside all tariffs, there wore many ways in which Empire trado and development could be fostered. Emigration. and all means of communication, by sea, rail, air, and wire, could be made as convenient as possible, and if these matters were dealt with in a manner most advantageous to the objects in view it wo-ild most probably result in more real Empire consolidation than any preferential tariff system that could be established.

The question as to whether the circular should be immediately distributed gave rise to considerable discussion, and it was eventually decided to hold over the circulation until after next meeting of tho executive, when members could discuss the matter ally.