IMPERIAL PREFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 11

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE.

ATTITUDE OF LABOUR

INTENTION OF DROPPING.

CONTROVERSY IN BRITAIN. OPINION IN DOMINIONS.

Australian and N.Z Press Association. (Received July 12. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. July 12

The threat made I>v the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Philip Snowden. to drop trade preferences has aroused keen controversy The newspapers arc publishing lengthy cablegrams from the Dominions. which stress the point that loss of travle will inevitably ensue, apart from the larger issue of linking up the Empire. The Daily Telegraph says it is now evident that Mr Snowden's announced intention has seriously disturbed tho public mind in each of the Dominions. Even a slight knowledge of the public feeling in the Empire overseas would have warned Mr Snowden that preference was not regarded solely as a matter of business It is regarded as a manifestation of sympathy arid a desire for more intimate inter-Imperial relationship. The Telegraph refers to Mr. Snowden's tentative proposal for a special Imperial Economic Conference, to see what can be done to extend inter-Imperial trade. The newspaper also dwells on the idea, favoured in Britain and in the Dominions, of o conference of experts, to work out a concerted policy of Empire trade, which may subsequently be submitted to an Imperial Conference, such as Mr. Snowden suggests. The Daily Telegraph says it believes the time is rip" for the adoption of both these proposals, and says that therefore it is most vital that the prospect should not bo prejudiced, either by premature or ill-con-sidered declarations of the Government's intention ori tho one hand, or by the brandishing of unauthorised fiscal programmes by individuals of tho opposito party on the other hand.

In the course ot the debate on the Ad-dress-in-Reply Mr. Snowden said tho Government was most anxious to promote tho closest trade relations with tho Dominions and every part of the Empire, but it did not believe those relations could be placed on the best footing of mutual advantage by a system of preferential tariffs, least of all by such proposals as had been nut forward with recklessness by Lord Beaverbrook.

The lato Joseph Chamberlain had stated that there could not be Imperial preference without a tax on food and raw material. To that policy tho Government would novor subscribe. Ho hoped that when he loft office ho would have swept away all food duties, including those on sugar and dried fruits. Preference on them would naturally go too.

Mr. Snowden said he meant to inquire into the difficulties of sugar-producing in the colonies and Dominions, but be would not assist them by tariffs. '' We have no intention of abolishing the Empire Marketing Board," said the Chancellor. "Wo want prompt and very close commercial relations with every part of (ho Empire. We have held out tho open hand. "We arc at present communicating with the Dominions to see if it is possible to hold an Imperial Economic Conference and to see what we can do to extend inter-Imperial trade."

ATTITUDE OF CANADA.

VIEWS OF MR. SNOWDEN.

CRITICISM BY MINISTER

Australian ami N.Z. Press Association. OTTAWA. .Tnly 11

A message from Victoria, British Columbia, says the Minister of Finance. Mr. J. A. Ilobb, in a speech reiterated his statement that Canada had always been favourably disposed toward the joint discussion of problems of mutual interest to the nations of the Empire, and would consider with favour any suggestion from the Government of Britain lending to an Empire Economic Conference. Mr. Robb again expressed his surprise at the reported declaration by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Philip S'nowden, against preferential policies.

" I believo in British preference, and I believe the British people, whom Mr. Snowden represents, welcome the preferonce given them by the Dominions. [. "If Mr. Snowden is opposed to the preferential tariff policies, he is not representing the views of the British people as a whole," said Mr. Robb, indicating that thero had been a volto face since the effacement of the Baldwin Government in 1923.

" However, wo are not making the policies of Great Britain. She is capablo of making her own tariffs. Britain is in accord with our own preferential policy \yitb regard to Australia." New Zealand, Mr. Robb said, had full British preference and gave Canada full preference. Canada had a trade agreement with Australia governing specified products, and the same applied to South Africa. Britain enjoyed the same privileges. "I do not believo that the preference given by Canada to Australia and New Zealand has dono any harm to British Columbia," hn added. He contended that there was no real opposition to British preference in Canada, although ho admitted there might lie some opposition to the manner of its application, and lie recalled that when the late Mr. W. S\ Fielding, as Minister of Finance, introduced the preference policy there was objection from the Opposition. Now the Leader of the Opposition, R. B. Bennett, was preaching British preference.