EMPIRE COUNCILS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24758, 4 December 1943, Page 8

EMPIRE COUNCILS

DEBATE IN COMMONS CLOSER COLLABORATION SPEAKERS URGE CHANGES LONDON. Dec. 2 A plea for Empire regional councils was made by Sir A L. Beit (Conservative —St. Pancras), in the House of Commons during the debate on the Address-in-Reply to the King's Speech. He moved an amendment regretting that it had not yet been possible definitely to arrange for an Imperial Conference to consider closer cohesion between the Commonwealth and the Empire after the war. He said it was over four years since the House of Commons debated Dominion affairs. Sir Alfred suggested that important changes must occur within the Empire if it was to organise a permanent effective system for defence which would contribute toward the prevention of future wars. Defence Responsibilities "The first step in that direction might be the establishment of Empire regional councils responsible to and with authority derived from the Imperial Conference," ho said. "Britain can no longer shoulder the burden of globular Empire defence. Canada will finish the war with the fourth largest air force in the world if not the fourth armed Power. It is quite clear she must be prepared to take her share in the responsibility for maintaining peace in the Atlantic and the Pacific areas. "I have the firm conviction that the Empire, if it is ready to take the chance which is staring it in the face, is standing on the threshold of a period of expansion and development only comparable to the growth of the United States in the last century. Now is the time for an ambitious scheme of migration compared with which the miserable achievement of the past 25 }'ears would seem a phantom. Britain cannot supply the vast population needed in the Dominions, therefore other nations in Europe will have to provide it. The Empire need not fear such an admixture of population." Development Essential

Mr. P. V. Emrys-Evans, UnderSecretary for the Dominions, referring to the inter-relationship between the Empire and the Commonwealth, Mr. Emrys-Evans said the fact that the present system had stood the strain was no argument for maintaining it in its present form. "Tho Commonwealth is not static," he said. "Change and development are essentia] to its health'and vigour. The time is ripe for an examination of the methods of consultation. The decision to make a change must be the decision not only of Britain, but of all the Dominions." Referring to migration, Mr. EmrysEvans said he did not anticipate that any Dominion would be able to initiate a migration policy on a large scale until it was possible to form some idea of the conditions of the post-war world.' The Dominions would want skilled industrial workers, but there would be no room for the agricultural immigrant usually associated with immigration in the past. World Co-operation Mr. C. 11. Attlee, deputy-Prime Minister, said he did not think a succession of Imperial Conferences every 10 months would be desirable, but thought close collaboration of every part of the Commonwealth and the Umpire extremely important in tho post-war world. " I hope we have got away from the idea of the value of extreme fragmentation in a world under absolute sovereignty," Mr, Attlee said. " That certainly has not brought peace. The free association of which we set a notable example is tlfe way to greater stability. It is important that this immense area be brought together as one qf the four big units —Soviet Russia, the United States, the British Commonwealth and Empire and China. You are more likely to get complete agreement between four big units than if the world is cut into small aggressively sovereign states." SLAUGHTERING RECORD PLANS FOR QUEENSLAND (Reed. 6.15 p.m.) CANBERRA, Dec. 3 Australia is feeding the equivalent of 12,000,000 people a day, said the Minister of Commerce and Agriculture Mr. J. Scully. To meet the increasing demands upon the Commonwealth's food supplies, the Commerce Department was making a record planning effort. Arrangements had beeen made for the slaughter in Queensland next year of 1,000,000 cattle and 4,000,000 sheep, a Queensland slaughtering record. Mr. Soully issued a warning that there were signs of an approaching world shortage of milk products. FOOD RATIONING APPEAL FOR CHEERFULNESS SYDNEY, Dec. 3 Cheerful acceptance by the Australian people of food rationing has been appealed for by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. Curtin. Australia, he said, had undertaken to give Britain 35 per cent of its total butter production and 22 per cent of its egg production. Mr. Curtin gave a warning that serious food shortages would continue, in spite of civilian rationing of many products. Although meat rationing was to be introduced _ early in the New Year, production estimates, after allowing for the reduced consumption by civilians, were still only 87 per cent of the total requirements. "The Government is determined that its commitments to Britain and its obligations to the fighting forces." Mr. Curtin stated, "will be discharged." ALLIES LEAD IN SCIENCE LONDON, Dec. 2 Through their scientists, the United Nations are now as far ahead of tho enemy in brain power as in output of war material, stated Sir Henry Dalo in his presidential address to the Royal Society. " The end of the war seems no longer in doubt, although we cannot tell how long it might bo in coming. In the countries of our great alliance science has devoted, without reserve, the past two years to winning the war. The Allies arc no longer straining to overtake the lead gained by the enemy in years of stealthy preparation. The lead is rather on our side."