BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 13

BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS.

WORK OF GOVERNMENT.

OUTLET FOR MIGRATION.

ATTITUDE OF LABOUR.

MR. SNOWDEN CRITICISED

Australian Press Association—United Service (Received April 19, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. April 18.

In (he House of Commons on the Dominions Office vote Mr. J. H. Thomas, who held the portfolio in the Labour Government, said it had been declared that if tho Labour Party was returned to power the disintegration of the Empire was inevitable.

A Conservative Member: What about last evening ?

Mr. Thomas said there would be no running away from that. The t:.me had long passed when the Union Jack could be considered the prerogative of one particular party. The suggestion of disintegration could best be answered by the record of the Labour Party while it was in office, and also by what its intentions were when it was in power. He referred to the settlement of the Irish Free State difficulty, how Imperial unity had been dealt with, and also the Indian problem in South Africa.

The Labour Party had been misrepresented on migration. He did not suggest migration as a solution of the unemployment problem, but it was undeniable that it could be made an effective contribution to its solution.

Dominions and Migration. They must face the real difficulties of the position. Australia and New Zealand must be asked to apply themselves to the problem as it affected them. The main object of the Labour Party if returned to office would not be the disintegration of the Empire, but the consolidation and progress of the heritage of which they were all proud. Mr. Thomas moved that the original vote be reduced by £IOO. The Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. L. S. Amerv, said he agreed that an overwhelming majority of the members of all parties regarded the Empire as a great problem and responsibility, and .the opportunity for free co-operation in a wise trusteeship. The Labour Party had r„ot always helped in the direction of continuity in Empire policy. The Imperial Economic Conference in 1923 made an agreement with the Dominions which he believed had not materially departed from Britain's fiscal policy. But Mr. Snovrden differed from it in 1924, and caused a discontinuity which was resented in many parts of the Empire. Need for Continuous Policy. Similarly the Imperial Conference after the fullest consideration decided that the Singapore base was necessary for a continuous Imperial naval policy, but the Labour Government had not carried out a policy of continuity. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald's suggestion that the Imperial Conferences should include the leaders of the Oppositions as well as of the Governments was impossible, owing to the disapproval of all the Dominion Governments.

Mr. Amery said he agreed that wherever possible non-party elements should be brought in. The very fact that the unity of Empire under the Crown was free and unfettered made it more imperative to have inter-communication and frequent personal consultation. The Government had developed daily communications, and had kept the Dominions in touch with every aspect of foreign affairs. More important still, it had kept in close personal touch with the High Commissioners on important issues, while the experiment of sending Dominion representatives to foreign capitals, which had been regarded by many persons as a doubtful experiment, was proving of great value.

Mr. Amery said one of the first things (ho new Government would have to do would be to see if the Empire Settlement Act needed amendment, and if the machinery of the Oversea Settlement Committee could be improved. Britain's purchases of Empire products had increased by 11 per cent, since the war. Views of Mr Snowden. Mr. Snowden seemed to be the Labour Party's rogue elephant on the subject of (lie Empire, as well as on other subjects. In the course ot a recent article in the press entitled " The Empire Bleeding Britain," Mr. Snowden poured contempt on Empire trade. He described the Empire Marketing Board as being an unnecessary waste, and Imperial preference as " sheer humbug."

Mr. Snowden had said the British manufacturer \yns being excluded from the Dominion markets, while the British taxpayer was paying extensively to advertise Dominion products.

Mr. Anievy said that Mr. Snowden went on to complain that Australia bought £56.500.000 worth of goods from foreign countries, and £69,000,000 worth from Britain. Mr. Arucry said no foreign country took anything like such a, large proportion of British goods.

Mr. .T. K. Thomas said he had not seen the article, but Mr. Snowden, who was absent from the debate, should not be judged on a few disjointed extracts. " I have no doubt," said Mr. Thomas, "that Mr. Snowden had no intention of repudiating the Empire (laughter), but was putting his own construction on a very difficult problem." Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal member for Caithness, said the migration of the flower of British manhood was disastrous. Britain should conserve her racial capital by encouraging land settlement in Britain. The vote for the Dominions Office was carried without a division.