EMPIRE AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20332, 13 August 1929, Page 8

EMPIRE AFFAIRS.

INTEREST IN BRITAIN. RETURN OF MR. BAVIN. PREFERENTIAL DUTIES. IMPROVING AUSTRALIA'S CREDIT. The interest manifested by members of the House of Commons in Empire affairs, Imperial preference duties and the effect of the Economic Commission's report on Australia, yere questions commented on yesterday by Mr. T. R. Bavin, Premier of New South Wales, who is a through passenger on the Makura to Sydney. "I met the political leaders when they were vciy much immersed in local affans, the general election having only recently taken place and tho Ramsay Mac Donald Government being in the process of assuming office," Mr. Bavin said. "Because of that I had little opportunity of discussing with the uew Ministers fuch matters as Imperial preferences, and all I can say under that head is that unquestionably it will bo disastrous if the preferential duties are abolished. That opinion is held not only by one party in Great Britain but, so far as I could judge, by all parties in the Dominions and colonies I visited. I found Canada and Fiji intensely interested in the question." Commonwealth Loan Council. The raising of Australian loans on the London market was one of the subjects to which Mr. Bavin said he had paid special attention when discussing Commonwealth and State finances and industrial conditions with financiers "I was rather disappointed to find that most of the new arrangements which have been made under tho Commonwealth Loan Council agreement have not been fully appreciated in London," he said. "We have done, by that agreement, exactly what our financial advisers have urged us for many years lo do, but that fact does not seem to bo fully understood. I am satisfied, however, that when the significance of the agreement is fully realised in London it will result in a substantial improvement in tho credit ot Australia." Mr. Bavin added that he had endeavoured to emphasise the salient points of tho agreement in conversations with those who were most intimately concerned. Economic Commission. The report of the Economic Commission which inquired into Australian finances at tho invitation of the Federal Government had directed a great deal cf attention to Australia, and the document was accepted as an authoritative statement of tho economic position of the Common-, wealth by the leaders of financial and political thought. Tho members of the commission had individually done invaluable service for Australia since their return.

Mr. Bavin declined to record his int» pressions of the men who are occupying prominent positions in the House of Commons, or to comment on the political situation in Great Britain, but said that the advent of the Labour Government had been received in tho usual fair-minded English spirit. Even those who were most disappointed at the defeat of the Baldwin Government were unanimous that tho Labour Government was entitled to a fair chance to redeem its promises, while those weie sceptical regarding the prospects of the Labour administration felt that Mr. Mac Donald should bo given the fullest opportunity of showing what he could do. "1 was especially interested to note that the new members of the Labour Party in the House of Commons were taking an interest in the Empire Parliamentary Association, and that all (he members of the House of Commons with whom I came in contact were evincing an interest in Empire, affairs," Mr. Bavin added. The Coal Trade Dispute.

Coming nearer home, Mr. Bavin paid the principal question awaiting his return was the coal trouble in New South Wales. "As I have been away I am unable to say anything concerning the dispute, but I regret extremely that up to the present no means have been found for securing a resumption of work on the fields," lc said. "I know that my colleagues have done everything possible toward that end."

Another question (hat would have to be dealt with was that relating to the future government of Sydney. The Act under which the commissioners were appointed to supersede the Lord Mayor and council expired this year, and legislation op the subject would be introduced during the coming session of Parliament.