THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1923. EMPIRE CONFERENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18348, 14 March 1923, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1923. EMPIRE CONFERENCES.

I By suggesting a conference of men with first-hand knowledge of the industries and commerce of the Dominions, to precede the forthcoming Imperial Economic Conference, the Hon. A. M. Myers has done a service to a cause which urgently calls for attention. His suggestion has provided a fresh angle of attack. In New Zealand the idea of the Conference, when first announced by Mr. Bonar Law, was received most favourably. It seemed to portend the importation of new vigour into a field which promised a rich return from energetic cultivation. The present condition of domestic politics has had the unfortunate effect of obscuring the wider question. Not only has it made the attendance of the Prime Minister impracticable ; it has distracted general attention from the possibilities of the Conference. It is not as if the relief of British unemployment were the only argument which could be produced in its favour. This motive i; - naturally emphasised in Britain. Coming from the other side of the world, Mr. Myers quite understandably mentions it first. The objective is one with which the Dominions will readily sympathise. The whole project is of wider scope, however. The unity and the homogeneity of the Empire are involved. The Dominions are concerned, since they wish to develop their resources and to fill their empty spaces with the type of citizen whom they most desire. By this they will most surely protect themselves against the insistence of those whom they would admit over their borders reluctantly, if at all. The relief of British unemployment is important. Viewed in its right perspective, however, it is only one of the reasons why earnest consideration should be given to the problem of systematising Empire development, and particularly migration within the Empire.

Business men could help in making the plans required. They should be in a thoroughly good position to furnish classified data, so that, in laying down lines of policy, the official Conference would be well armed with information. A business man sent to represent his country would be required at the outset to forget his own business. This does not mean a delegate to a possible conference would have to be warned not to spend his time advancing his private interests. So much might be taken for granted. What would have to be assured, however, would be that those who undertook the mission started with a comprehensive outlook on the whole commercial and industrial life of their own country. A primary producer would have to remember the claims of secondary industries. The industrialist would require to appreciate the possibilities and needs of the broad lands where the smoke of the factory is not seen. They would have to present the opportunities and the requirements of trade and industry in the broadest possible way. Before he started for any such Conference, the delegate would be required to know thoroughly the case for his country ; to be primed with information upon only one department of its activities would not suffice. Each Dominion would need also to realise this first essential. Unless all took an equally comprehensive view, the results of the deliberations would lack symmetry. It would be desirable, also, that no order of reference should restrict the scope of inquiry or discussion. The conclusions reached would commit nobody ; therefore the delegates could be given a perfectly free hand. '

Granted that men of the right type were selected ; that they attacked their task from the right point; and that they were able to speak with complete knowledge of conditions in the various countries they represented, then good results should be obtained from such a gathering. Each delegation should go armed with practical suggestions. It would not be necessary for any one part of the Empire to propound a complete and compact scheme.

The reconciliation of needs in one part of the world with resources in another should be the work of all the representatives in consultation. If, however, the envoys from one of the Dominions could demonstrate a field for British capital and British labour, in developing untouched resources, he would need only to show that there was profit for the capital and opportunity for unemployed labour by attacking the work of development. Others could then suggest the proper and available reserves of money and men to be diverted to the task. So long as the r.-,.iAnnna on both sides was mutually satisfactory, there should be little difficulty in dovetailing the propositions. Very few instances of the kind would be needed to give full -- ,: «'".fion f or the Conference. The discussion of ways and means could then be left to the later official gathering. The result would be that • the official envoys would find material ready provided for them to consider. Its availability would probably servo to bring them more quickly to grips' with the realities 'of the situation. It is becoming quite certain that the Imperial Economic Conference will not meet much before the end of the present year, if, indeed, it is not postponed until next year. There should be ample time, therefore, for full discussion n-'' development of this idea of a preliminary meeting of business men. Viewed in the proper light, and taken up with sufficient vision and earnestness, the suggestion made by Mr. Myers may yet prove of no small service in helping forward that most important cause, the progressive utilisation of Empire resources for the better development of Empire possibilities.