THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1923. AN ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18552, 9 November 1923, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1923. AN ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.

+*~ . With Canada a dissentient, the Imperial Conference has passed a resolution for the establishment of an Economic Committee analogous , i to the Imperial Shipping Committee. ' i Mr. Bruce appears as mover of the ; | motion and chief advocate of the 1 j idea. It did not have to wait for his ! arrival in London to be conceived, however. Several times a scheme on similar lines has been discussed in Britain of recent months, the Imperial Conference being urged to ■ give it definite shape. Early in August the London Daily Telegraph sketched a proposal, which was stated to be in the mind of the Government, for just such a body, the Shipping Committee being quoted as the precedent and model, then as now. The details of it were to have been handled by Sir P. Lloyd Greame. Independent of authorship, it is now a recorded fact that the Conference has affirmed the | scheme, and another means will*be ■ tried to draw closer the economic | bonds uniting Britain and the outlying portions of the Empire. It is a method which should neither arouse suspicion nor provoke - controversy. The functions of the committee will be no more than advisory, on a common-sense view, | leaving no real reason why Canada should feel the apprehensions ex- ! pressed by her delegate. If it be ; agreed that the Conference itself j cannot commit any of the partici- | pants to action which must come through the usual Parliamentary channels, so also should it be recognised that an Economic Committee as outlined could not in any way arrogate to itself powers normally wielded by the Legislatures of those countries participating. An information bureau is something very different- from. a law-making assembly. Little is given of the scheme which the Conference endorsed, save that the committee will be continuously in session, and it« functions will be advisory. Earlier suggestions were made in slightly divergent form. The project forecasted by the Daily Telegraph was for a body to consider trade problems as they arose, examine them in all their bearings, and report to the Governments concerned, with which any future action would lie. It would in fact be a department of economic re- | search and inquiry for the Empire, with the Dominions represented in | its personnel. A little later a slightly different proposal was revived by Lord Sydenham, a former governor of Victoria. He had first made it in Melbourne in 1903. His idea was a permanent' council working for the extension of Imperial trade and development. The chief factor, in his mind, was easy, speedy and constant communication. Therefore he proposed that his council should concentrate on shipping, cables, wireless and port facilities. In order that it might have funds at its disposal, he proposed an ad valorem duty on all imports from foreign countries at all Imperial ports. The duty being for revenue purposes only, need not be resisted by Free Traders, in his view of the subject. For his scheme, he claimed that it would provide means to bring all parts of the Empire into immediate practical co-operation for the building up of Imperial trade. He suggested that while the committee should be based on London, it could meet periodically in other parts of the Empire. Local offices could be set up in each of the Dominions to watch local developments. As a result. Lord Sydenham claimed that a ; large mass of invaluable information now scattered about the Empire would be collected and concentrated for the general benefit. The proposal approved seems to be of a wider and simpler nature than that of Lord Sydenham. If the committee settles down to practical work, there should be a great opportunity for it to be useful without the universal and uniform financing scheme of the Sydenham plan. That seems useful enough, but would undoubtedly cause difficulties and questionings. The proposal for an itinerary is one which might well be considered, however. Apart from these details of organisation, the movement can be welcomed as offering distinct possibilities. The collection and dissemination of information is a task which may well help to stimulate and develop trade between : Oonrif parta of the Empire. are constantly lost be-

cause knowledge of them is wanting at one end or the other; that is generally agreed. Besides gathering and distributing information, the committee can do work of a very important nature, as Mr. Bruce indicated in advocating his resolution. Certain problems, such as dumping and depreciated currencies, are faced by all parts of the Empire, in like manner, if not in the same degree. If iheir representatives from, all parts take counsel together, there can be a pooling of experience, with the prospect of formulating better expedients to meet abnormal menaces to industry and commerce. If the proposal of tho Imperial Government to aid in the grant of loans by rebates of interest, becomes well established, the committee may be a useful means of determining worthy objects for the extension of the concession. Its particular possibilities are multitudinous. There is also the general principle that it promises another and welcome avenue for Empire co-operation. Concerted action was the rule in war. It is not a satisfactory thought that similar unity of purpose is more difficult to obtain in peace. There is not the same dominating, overmastering need or motive, but there are many directions in which it would be practicable and valuable. The ideal may be gradually realised, and the Imperial Economic Committee may well provide a useful step toward its attainment.