BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22046, 28 February 1935, Page 10

BRITAIN AND DOMINIONS

Things said at the farewell luncheon to Viscount Galway, New Zealand's next Governor-General, need not be taken too seriously. For instance, though Mr. J. H. Thomas advised Lord Galway to "refrain from discussing meat with the wily New Zealand politicians," he did not necessarily imply—and it is not necessarily true —that New Zealand, through sheer diplomatic brilliance, is having all the best of the meat negotiations. In fact, Ihere is very good reason to believe the contrary. Mr. Thomas made another statement which merits a little consideration when he said, "It takes some drumming into the heads of Dominion representatives that there is such a thing as British agriculture." If that'is so they must be very obtuse, because from some'of the pronouncements of Mr. Walter Elliot and his immediate sympathisers, one would be tempted to wonder whether there was anything in issue except British agriculture. Empire agriculture and British manufacturing industry have both seemed at times to be threatened with obscurity. After all, in establishing policies of Empire cooperation, an excellent principle was once laid down as the keynote of the British policy—the British farmer first, - then the Empire and the foreigner last. Has Mr. Thomas spent any time drumming it into the head of Mr. Elliot that the principle is not the British farmer first, the Empire and the foreigner dead heat second'? Has he impressed the original and simple principle on Mr. Walter Bunciman as he has set about negotiating trade treaties with foreign countries which compete seriously with the Dominions in meat and dairy produce? As the liaison officer between the British Cabinet and the Empire, Mr. Thomas is supposed to do this kind of thing. In recent times there has been plenty of scope for his talents. Probably they have been exercised on both parties, though in his speech at the New Zealand luncheon he directed his good-humoured shafts at one only.