FREE TRADERS' IRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18530, 15 October 1923, Page 7

FREE TRADERS' IRE.

MR. BRUCE UNPERTURBED. SALUTARY STIRRING UP. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 4.5 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 13. The subject of Imperial preference was discussed to-day by Mr. S. M. Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, in the course of an interview. <•■'■' In reply to a suggestion that he had raised a' hornets' nest in Free Trade England, Mr. Bruce said he sujjposed he had, but that could not be \ helped". Perhaps it was not , a. bad' thing that there should be a. stirring up. The very essence of the Imperial Conference was that the delegates should' freely express their sentiments in regard to matters of the Empire's interest. '*•'.'•;' Mr. Bruce declined to comment on apparently inspired newspaper paragraphs that the Dominion representatives assume that beyond minor adjustments thero is no hope of Britain extending preference or that she will .'deal with other commodities than those already agreed; upon. Mr. W. F. Massey expressed himself on the same point as not over sanguine that preference on other products would be conceded. The Observer comments: "Mr. Bruce is an enthusiast as befits the Prime Minister of a young Power. There was a largeness about his speech. In range and scale it went beyond anything said in tho prewar discussion of preference, and is ■. evidence of the rapid movement of overseas opinion: In Britain opinion naturally moves more slowly."

HELP FOR FARMERS. DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. POLICY STATEMENT SOUGHT Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 0.5 p.m.) LONDON. Oct. 13. A deputation of fanners waited on the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, and requested an immediate statement. of the Government's intentions in ; the direction of assisting to relieve agricultural depression. The leader pointed out that there had been a decrease of 11 per cent, in the number of agricultural workers since June, . 1921. Mr. "; Baldwin requested further information before announcing his policy.