TRADE PREFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11649, 13 October 1923, Page 6

TRADE PREFERENCE

OPPOSITION TO MR BRUCE’S PROPOSALS BRITISH LIBERALS WILL GIVE NO QUARTER LEAGUE OF NATIONS STRONGLY SUPPORTED DOMINION PREMIERS UNANIMOUS The proposals made by Mr Bruce for protection for British agriculturists, preference to the Dominion producers, and import licenses to discriminate against foreign goods, have encountered stormy opposition from the Free Trade supporters. Sir Donald Maclean, the Liberal leader, declares that preference is protection in disguise, and should be given no quarter. - According to one report,Mr Bruce intends to open a “propaganda campaign when the Conference ends, but it is also stated that his proposals will not be pressed.

The Dominion delegates, discussing the League of Nations, were unanimous that it should be given wholehearted support.

MERELY ALTERNATIVES BRUCE’S PLAN NOT PRESSED. COMMITTEE UNFAVOURABLE. Renter’s Telecram. (Received October 12, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON. October 11 The two committees appointed by the Economic Conference met to deal with Mr Bruce’s proposals. The first committee dealt specially with tho subsidy to British agriculture and the Dominion producers, and the second considered the question of the £rant of import licensee to discriminate against foreign gpoda^ It is understood that opposition developed early to both proposals, of wbuh the practicability is questioned. The Australian delegates have intimated that they do not intend to press tho.suggestions, which were only to be regarded as alternatives to tariff preference. It is considered unlikely they will be recommended by the committees to the full meeting of Conference, which has adjourned till Monday. Only committee work will be done to-morrow.' - Various matters, including overseas settlement, and the question of patents, were discussed to-day by committees of the Economic Conference, - which meets again in full session next week.

PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN MR BRUCE’S INTENTION. Australian and N.Z. Ga’olr Association (Reoeived October 12, 10.35 p.m.) - LONDON, October 12. The “Westminster Gazette’s’’ political correspondent says: “Some of Mr Bi uce’s friends are saying the Government has done him a bad turn by producing tbeir preference proposals. Mr Bruce came with an expansive programme, and the Government. stared up sources of ridicule by opening the performance with a thin overture. Mr Bruce is embarrassed,’. of course, hut will not be deterred from prosecuting hu campaign I learn that when the Conference is over he will throw him, self into his propaganda campaign throughout the country.’’ FREE TRADERS’ VIEWS MANIFESTO TO DELEGATES. “INTERFERENCE FATAL.” Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 11. The Free Trade Union has address ed a manifesto to the Imperial Conference delegates, pointing out that the policy which has enabled Britain to import cheap food and cheap raw materials enabled her to defy eompeti tion, so that her export trade grew and her import trade increased, and contributed to the people’s prosperity. In the union’s opinion, this was the most complete vindication of the Free Trade By stem. The manifesto-adds: “The war has left us with an enormously increased capacity for production, hut that capacity will be wasted unless we can tell our goods in competition with the world. Interference with imports by taxation will be more fatal to our industries now than before the war.”

uuawuva now i-iutu oeiure tne war. “GIVE IT NO QUARTER” “PROTECTION IN DISGUISE.”, Australian and N.Z. Cable -A—nriiaUoa. LONDON, October^ll;--Sir Donald Maclean, opening the Liberal Free Trade campaign - at a largo gathering of Scottish Liberals in Perth, said that tho preference developments at the Imperial Conference laired a vital issue. Preference was simply the old enemy Protection disguised, and Liberals should give it no quarter. “BIG VOICE-LITTLE MAN” MR BRUCE’S “FATUOUS THREAT.” YORKSHIRE INDIGNANT. Australian and N.Z Cable A«-©cin f ‘on LONDON, October 11. Tho “Yorkshire Observer,” the leading Asquithian paper, says: “The Dominion Premiers, in advocating preference, are thinking less of the Empire than of the economic interests of the countries they represent. They are frankly over here to Bcarch for new capital and more assured markets. Britain should copy the Duinnior Premiers in taking economic issues on their own merits, without paying too much attention to Imperial trimmings. “There need ho the less hesitation, since at least one of tho Premiers thinks he can bully this country into Irtotection by a fatuous threat to carry his wares elsewhere. It is a big voice to come from a little man, representing a population half tho size of London in a land which, apart from tho p:otection of tho British flag, would stand no chanco in a quarrel with an Asiatic Power.”

“ DIRECT CHALLENGE” AMERICA MAY RETALIATE. to British preferences. AUfttralian and N.Z. Cabla Aaaociatloa. (Received October 12, 10 p.m.) „ NEW 'YORK, October 11. The Washington correspondent of tho “Journal of Commerce,” says: “Britain’s tariff preferences to the Dominions at the Imperial Conference are regarded in Administration circles as a . direct challenge for the United States to enact the retaliatory measures made possible under the American tariff law, and any appreciable extension of the present preference will find President Cbolidge squarely faced to the problem of protecting sugar, tobacco, and fruit growers under the ■wide discretionary powers of the Fordney law,..which requires the President to- determine whether the public interest demands retaliation for foreign discrimination. “The Administration, although reluctant to exercise these powers, in view of the far-reaching international complications, would nevertheless face an insisting Congress anxious to protect the affected constituencies.”

THE BRUCE DOCTRINE * POLITICAL EFFECT SERIOUS. FRENCH COMMENT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, October 11. French opinion is considerably interested in the Imperial Conference. The “Temps,” commenting on the preference discussion, says that the proposals will provide a breach for the Conservative Party to steer their economic policy through. Mr Bruce’s proposals may be classed as “the Bruce doctrine.” which will be the “Monroe Doctrine” applied to the British Empire. The ‘'Temps” offers no opinion as to thcj possibility of realising such a doctrine, but declares that its fulfilment would bring in train serious political effects. It argues that if British markets are closed to German traders. Germany will be seriously affected, and the pledges which France and Belgium hold in tli© Ruhr will he rendered more necessary than ever. LEAGUE DOMINIONS GIVE SUPPORT. STRIKING UNANIMITY. " Reuter's Telegram. LONDON, October 11. lord Gurzon made a statement to tho Imperial Conference on the political events that had resulted from the Janina frontier massacre. Lord Robert Cecil reviewed the work of the League of Nations. The afternoon session was devoted to speeches by the Dominion representatives on Lord Robert Cecil’s statement. The speeches, which will not.be published till to-morrow, revealed striking unanimity on tbe part of the Dominion representatives as to tho necessity for the existence of the League of Nations. It was felt on all sides that without such a body as an effective lemsh, another conflict was almost inevitable in Europe, into which tho Dominions would be hound to he drawn. On certain phases of the League’s efforts in regard to the receht European crisis, there was however quite frank criticism. ■ The Conference is unlikely to meet to-morrow. A good part of the day will be consumed by the ceremony at the Guildhall of conferring the Freedom of the City on Sir Baldwin, Mr Bruce, and Mr Mackenzie King. FUTURE FOREIGN POLICY MR BALDWIN MAY INDICATE. Aistralian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received Octobor 12, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. The’ “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent says it is expected that Mr Baldwin at tlio Guildhall to-day will give a hint of the future orientation of the Empire foreign policy, as the outcome of his discussions with the British and Dominion statesmen.

PUBLIC CONTRACTS INTER-IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. BRITAIN DOING HER BEST. Reuter’s TalanTnrc LONDON, October 11. At tho Economic Conference, Mr Neville Chamberlain initiated the discussion on Imperial preference in regard to public contracts. He said the Government had recently investigated the practice in various departments, and had endeavoured to agreo upon a uniform policy. Tho result was that it was shown to be undesirable to fix any percentage of preference. The efforts of the departments had been satisfactory. The Air Ministry had bought no foreign supplies: the Navy’s purchases, excepting of oilfuel, comprised only 1 per cent, of foreign supplies; and the War Office

specialities, and unprocurable elsewhere. The Post Office always specified for British and Colonial metals. NEED OF FLEXIBILITY.

Mr G. P. Graham (Canada) said there must be flexibility. Preference could bo no question of a fixed percentage. Preference should be given to those contracts which were likely to lead to an expansion of Imperial trade. Ho favoured every part of the Empire giving preference to every other part. Mr H. Burton (South Africa) agreed. It was undesirable, he said, to 'make preference rigid. The South African Government had had to contend with trade combines and rings, and therefore the principle must be left elastic. Mr C. A. Innes (India) said that in practice India purchased So per cent, of her materials in London, which was evidence of the effect of the preference she granted to the Mother Country. The discussion was adjourned. FROZEN MEAT. Mr L. C. M. S. Amery pointed out that all naval supplies of meat were obtained from Imperial sources, and said he was doing his best to induce the British sailor to smoke Imperialgrown tobacco, but hitherto unsuccessfully, Lord Derby said that all the frozen . meat used by the Army was obtained l from Australia and New Zealand. It was impossible yet to obtain all the preserved meat needed from Imperial sources, but he hoped that arrangements might he reached to enable this to’ be done. EMPIRE DEVELOPMENT

BRITISH FINANCIAL HELP. GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS. Reuter's Telecram. LONDON, October 11. The problem of co-operation in financial assistance for Imperial development was discussed by the Economic Conference this afternoon. Sir P. Lloyd-Greamc, president of the Board of Trade, said the question was how far they could co-operate with tho Dominions, so that the financial commitments undertaken should not in the initial stages place an undue burden on a particular country. All the Dominions, the Colonies, and India had great problems of development. It was to the general interest that they should be accelerated as far as possible. Britain was already given a large measure of financial assistance to settlement. If they could get this speeded up, it meant the placing ' f orders, and the British Government was prepared to assist financially. THE PROPOSAL. It was proposed that Britain should advance part of the interest for a period in respect of anticipated schemes, as were put in hand before the normal time, and which represent ed orders placed in Britain. It appeared ito the British Government that that would help in the rapid development of the Dominions. and would help Britain by giving employment. Certain conditions, however, must be satisfied. He hoped the requisite machinery would he devised for examin- j ing schemes and settling terms. The British Government- was determined to help development in every way it could. The proposal was sound economically, hecauso it was merelv using credit to ac-celerate normal development when it was needed most. Ho quoted as instances New Zealand’s hydro-electrical programme, Australia’s railway development, and India’s programme of railways, and other works. SPEEDY DEVELOPMENT. Sir P. Lloyd-Greame said that the Government might be prepared to guarantee interest and capital in respect of development schemes in the colonies, as distinct from the Dominions. Mr IV. Ormsfby-Gore (Colonies and Piotectorates) said that Africa represented great possibilities. The Colonies had raised £20,000,000 last year, and Nigeria was coming on the market with £5,000,000 this week. .They were doing all they could to speed up their development. The Conference has adjourned till next week. "PILLS FAR EARTHQUAKES” TINKERING WITH TARIFFS. Reuters TeleeTam. (Received October 12, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, October 11. In a speech at Kirkby, Mr J. R. CSlynes, M.P., said there appeared to be a danger of the conversion of the Imperial Conference into a trading bureau to arrange a fiscal bargain without electoral or parliamentary sanction'. An understanding with the Dominions for reasons of unified policy and natural Empire developments was essential, hut tinkering with tariffs or trying to fix rates on the imports of dried fruits, as a stimulus to 'general trade, or a remedy for unemployment' was like offering pills for earthquakes. SOCIAL FUNCTIONS DINNER AT THE PALACE. Reuter’s Telegram, (Received October 12, 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, October 11. Their Majesties entertained members of the Conferences, with their ladies, at dinner at Buckingham Palace tonight. All the overseas delegates will he the guests of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire at Chatsworth for the week-end