IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11736, 25 January 1924, Page 11

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

WHAT IT REALLY MEAHS “DOMINIONS NOT ADVOCATING SELFISH POLICY.” AN ALLEGATION DENIED. (Special to “N.Z. Times.”) AUCKLAND, January 23. An emphatic denial was given to the allegation that the dominions are selfishly demanding the Mother Country to give preference to them on an unreciprocal basis. The true position of affairs was pointed out to a “Star” representative in an interview with Mr Walter Leitch, one of the three members of the Commonwealth Tariff Board, who is at present in New Zealand. “WHAT WE GIVE.” “I have noticed lately,” said Mr Leitch, “that several visiting Englishmen have asked what preference the dominions are prepared to give to Great Britain in exchange for a preference on Australian and New Zealand goods. In Australia alone the present amount of preference given to the Old Country in duties alone totals 10 millions per annum. All that Great Britain is giving to Australian products is a preference on dried fruits, which does not amount to more than £65,000. We want preference for all our raw products.” “WHAT WE WANT.” Every Australian and every New Zealander holds this view, continued Mr Leitch, that in view of the fact that the Commonwealth and the Dominion give Great Britain such substantial preference over other countries, she in turn ought to give a preference to our products. If Australia had not given British manufacturers that preference of 10 millions, and had not taken action through the Industries Preservation Act to prevent dumping in Australia of goods produced m countries with a depreciated currency, the trade that Britain has done with Australia would not have reached anything like its present figure. We are hoping that the British Government will, give favourable consideration to the proposals made by Mr Bruce and Mr Massey at the Conference, and the Motherland and her dominions will be drawn closer together by a system of preference tariffs to encourage trade between, them.