MR. FORBES' REVIEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20931, 22 July 1931, Page 11

MR. FORBES' REVIEW.

CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES. EFFECT OF NEW STATUTE. ATTITUDE OF NEW ZEALAND. [BIT TELEGRAPH.— rBESS ASSOCIATION.] "WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The debate on Imperial affairs was opened in the House of Representatives to-day by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. G. W. Forbes. Mr. I'orbes said on the economic side he thought it was not an exaggeration to say that the Imperial Conference was very largely a failure. The Dominion Governments were unanimously of the opinion that the most effective means of consolidating and increasing inter-Imperial trade would bo a system of Imperial tariff pieferences, based on a general protective policy similar to that already adopted and successfully operated by each of the Dominions individually.

It was generally recognised that the adoption of such a system would not be easy for the United Kingdom, as it would necessitate the imposition of customs duties in a country whose general policy bad been traditionally opposed to this course, and it would further require a system of duties on food* a policy which had met with determined opposition from the British people for a lengthy period. No Agreement Reached. The British Government, which had been elected on a free trade policy, was unable to concur with. the Dominion's proposals, holding the view that an imposition of duties must have the result of increasing the cost of living. « The Dominion representatives accordingly turned themselves to a consideration of the British Government's proposals, which suggested, inter alia, 'the possibility of quota and bulk purchase in order to assist the disposal in Britain of the Dominions' primary products. It was generally thought that although the prosposals merited thorough investigation they did not appear to offer any practicable means of achieving the desired object, and it was decided to postpone consideration of these subjects to a subsequent economic conference. " In my judgment," Mr. 'Forbes continued, " there is some indication of a change in opinion., in Britain, and I am inclined to believe that the people of the United Kingdom are in the course of altering their traditional policy." Referring to the quota system, under which Dominion primary products might be allotted a definite proportion of the market of the United Kingdom,'and the system of bulk purchase, Mr. Forbes said he did not think they were practicable, as they would involve enormous interference with the existing channels of business, would require a large measure of Government control and would inevitably lead to difficulties in the fixation of prices and probably to misunderstanding between the Governments concerned. Science and Industry. On minor economic subjects the conference had performed useful work. It was impossible to exaggerate the importance of the application of scientific principles to commerce and industry, and successful results might be expected from the deliberations of the conference. It was generally agreed that no good purpose could be served by encouraging migration. A special committee had been set up to consider the question of whaling in the Antarctic, the conference expressing concern at the present position, and its intention to assist any practicable steps for the proper regulation of the industry. The question of the Singapore naval base had been fully discussed and the conference had agreed that the base should be completed as an essential element for the defence of British interests in the Pacific. The existing economic position, however, indicated the necessity for avoiding unnecessary expenditure during a period of difficult finance, and the postponement of avoidable expenditure during the next five years was agreed. Regarding disarmament, it was resolved to take every possible step to facilitate the success of the forthcoming Disarmament Conference. It was also agreed to support the proposal to amend the Covenant of the League of Nations so as to bring it into conformity with the Kellog Pact in prohibiting war in any circumstances. Nationality Problems. Referring to nationality, Mr. Forbes said there was a general desire to maintain a common status throughout the British Commonwealth, but in the application of this principle many difficulties arose which were not capable of a complete solution meantime. New Zealand maintained the present position that a citizen of Now Zealand was a British subject in exactly the same way as a citizen 'of the United Kingdom was a British subject.. Mr. Forbes said he held the view that any alteration of the law relating to British nationality should be uniform throughout the British Commonwealth. This seemed to be the guiding principle, but it would bo recognised that the adaption of this principle would necessarily delay the alterations suggested in the nationality law, for example, the nationality of married women. v Referring to the Statute of Westminster, the Prime Minister said its effect was to implement the situation established at the 1926 conference, under which the Dominions were recognised as autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status and in no way subordinate to one another, although' connected by common allegiance to the Crown Saving Clause Inserted, it "was agreed by the conference that the Statute of Westminster should be introduced into the British Parliament on the request of the Parliaments of each Dominion, and ho would present to the House a tesolution to that effect. A saving provision had been inserted at the request of New Zealand, that notwithstanding the approval of the resolution lie was about to move, and notwithstanding the operation of the Statute of Westminster, the position in New Zealand would not be affected unless the New Zealand Parliament decided to apply the Statute to the Dominion. New Zealand could at leisure decide whether it desired to accept the position created by the Statute. The effect of the resolution he would submit would merely enable the Statute to be applied to those British Commonwealth members who wished to take advantage of it. He was not one of those holding the view that the definite establishment of Dominion status was the final solution of the constitutional problems of the British Commonwealth. It would seem that the wider the powers of the individual Governments, the greater the need and the greater the difficulty of co-ordinating their activities into a common policy. The correct attitude for New Zealand to take up was to concur with what equanimity it might in such constitutional changes as were desired by other Governments, and to maintain its own position meantime without material alteration. Mr. Forbes then moved the formal resolution on the lines he had indicated.