EMPIRE CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11651, 16 October 1923, Page 5

EMPIRE CONFERENCE

DISCUSSION ON DEFENCE DEBATE OX FOREIGN POLICY POSTPONED. PROGRESS' SATISFACTORY. Telegraph.—Press Assn.—CopyrightAustralian nnd N.Z. Cable Association. (Received October 15, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON. October 14. The “Daily Telegraph” eays it was expected that the Ini|>erial Conference would devote Monday to a debate on foreign affaires, when Lord C urzon would reply to the -dominion delegates’ speeches, but thib debate has been delayed. “It is expected that to-morrow’s Conference will begin with a discussion on naval, military, and air defence, and the question of the dominions’ co-opera-tion therein. Probably both Jx>rd Salisbury and Mr L. C. M. S. Amery will addrcfce the Conference. Lord Salisbury may be able to present the Imperial Defence Committee’s final report. “The general opinion is that the Conference's progress so far has been highly satisfactory.” CURRENCY BILLS BRITISH TRADERS' PLAN. “BEST OF ALL SECURITY.” Austrauaa and N.Z Cable Association* (Received October 15, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON. October 15. The Manchester Association of Importers and Exporters has prepared a memorandum lor submission to the Imperial Economic Conference in favour of extending the trade credit facilities of the Empire by means of Empire currency bills, which would circulate throughout the Empire, except Tndia, and take the place which gold had before the war as the balancing factor for exchanges. The memorandum suggests that Empire currency bills would be the most negotiable, mobile security in the world, and would have behind them the combined strength of all the participating countries in the Empire. The bills would be payable on maturity in the currency of the participating countries. The Empire would also benefit by a reduction in exchange charges, especially in such a case a 9 Australia’s present need for funds to finance further exports.

TO HELP THE FARMER TRANSFERENCE OF TAXATION. ENGLISH M.P.’S SCHEME. Australian and NZ. Cab!*- Association* LONDON, October 14. Mr Basil Pcto, M.P., writes to the Press suggesting a method by which the claims of both British and Dominion agriculture will benefit without forcing up food prices. He suggests the removal of the present sugar and tea duties, and their replacement oy a tax yielding the same revenue on foreign bacon, cheese, butter, poultry, and eggs, with substantial preference to the dominions. Mr Pcto points out that on the average conditions are most favourable to dairy and stock farming, which employ more labour than cereal-growing. Such a tainsfercnce of the eluting food taxes to other commodities wou.a not increase the general cost of food.