THE EMPIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22142, 22 June 1935, Page 13

THE EMPIRE

VITAL INTERESTS BRITISH ATTITUDE MB, THOMAS' VIEWS OTTAWA DECISIONS STIMULANT TO TRADE Telegraph Preps Association—Copyrisrli (Received June 01. 7.5 pm.) LOXDOX. .Tune ? The Dominion? Secretary, Mr. J H. Thomas, speaking in the TTous< of Commons to-day, when the Dom inions Office vote wns taken, saif the Statute of Westminster hac created an entirely new situation ir the relationship between the Mother Country and the Dominions Tn short each Dominion hac absolute freedom to determine its own destiny. The recent Silver Jubilee celebrations in themselves were the best indication of the family spirit and the sense of unity of the British Empire. The presence in London of so many representative Dominion statesmen car? them the opportunity to discuss the tvhole situation in regard to Imperial and foreign policy. Tn the discussions on foreign affairs and Imperial defence, no attempt was made to ask any Prime Minister to hind his Government. All the Dominions sympathised with the policy of the United Kingdom Government and declared that it must continue its efforts for peace, bearing always in mind the value of the League of Nations as an effective instrument to that end. Defence ar.d Economics On the question of defence, the Dominions again, without a solitary exception. agreed that iu view of the present state of the Services, which had arisen as a result of an efl- *t to set an example to the world in armaments reduction. it was an essentia: to the people of Britain, and in vie. , of Imperial obligations, that the steps to repair the national defences already announced should be undertaken. In regard to the Imperial economic position, Mr. Thomas said the United Kingdom delegates at the Ottawa Conference had said they must retain the right first to consider the interests of the people in Britain; secondly, they wished to encourage and develop all parts of the Empire by giving preference; and, thirdly, but by no means last in importance, they must not be unmindful of the vital importance of their export trade with foreign countries. As indicative of the stimulant to Imperial trade provided by the Ottawa decisions, Mr. Thomas said Canada in 1932 had exported to the United Kingdom goods and produce worth £43,000.000, and in 1934 £50,000,000, an increase of 17 per cent. Justification of Ottawa Policy Australia in 1932 sent £46.000.000 worth of goods, etc., to Britain, and in 1934 £50,000.000 worth, an increase of 8.7 per cent. New Zealand had sent £37,000,000 worth in 1932 and £40.500.000 worth in 1934, an increase of 9 per cent. The United Kingdom had exported to Canada in 1932 £17,000,000 worth of goods, ' and in 1934 £21.000.000 worth, an increase of 20 per cent; to Australia in 1932 £20.000.000 worth and in 1934 £27,000.000 worth; to New Zealand in 1932 £10,500,000 worth and in 1934 £11,500,000 worth. The figures for South Africa were even more significant. United Kingdom exports in 1932 were valued at £18.500.000 and in 1934 thev had risen to £31,000,000. The Minister claimed that these , figures were a complete justification of the Ottawa policy. Its best justification was that without exception every Dominion which was a party to the Ottawa agreements could show at the present moment a Budget surplus and a certain tendency toward prosperity. Meat Negotiations Reviewed Referring to the meat situation. Mr. Thomas dealt at length with the various factors involved. He said negotiations were still proceeding and he was not without hope that a satisfactory agreement would be reached ultimately. The Minister said it was only fair that the House and the country should know the difficulties of the meat negotiations. First there was the position of British agriculture. British farmers and agricultural labourers resented the importation of goods, wherever they were produced, when sold in the -country of origin above the prices for which they were sold in Britain. Notwithstanding Britain's increase of population in the past 25 years, agricultural production had remained practically stationary. This could not he allowed to continue. As he had explained to the Dominion statesmen, each Dominion had room for many millions more popidation. Other factors complicated the situation. Britain could not impose a levy without the Dominions' consent, and there was a system of restriction embargo which led to all manner of friction. Instead, the British Government had to find heavy subsidies. The policy they were aiming at was to strive to find an agreement which would enable a tariff to be applied with substantial preference to the Dominions. (Ministerial cheers and cries of " Three years too late! ") Mr. Thomas said that whatever policies were adopted three years ago, the Government was entitled, if experience showed it a better way, to face the facts. It was on these lines that it was endeavouring to reach an agreement. It was useless lor the Dominions to say they must have free and unfettered entry into the British market, with preference, unless they equally bore in mind that there was another part of the Ottawa agreement, called Article X., which provided that as far as possible, instead of prohibitive tariffs and meaningless preferences, British industry should have a fair chance of entering the Dominion markets on a competitive basis. " I am pleased to announce that as far as it is possible to judge there is every indication of an agreement under that head,'' said the Minister.