PREFERENCE FOR DOMINION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIV, Issue 12660, 21 January 1927, Page 7

PREFERENCE FOR DOMINION

MR COATES PLEADS THAT NEW ZEALAND IS ENTITLED TO IT

FOR PRODUCTS EQUAL TO OTHERS

TRADE BALANCE ADJUSTMENT IS WHAT HE DESIRES

By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright. Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Neceived January 20, 8.45 p.m.) VANCOUVER, January 19. Mr Coates, interviewed at Winnipeg, maintained that New Zealand should be given preference by Canada over countries other than British in the matter of trade where her products were recognised as equal to or superior in quality. He advocated an adjustment of the trade balance between two sister Dominions. In the matter of naval defence he reiterated that what the individual Dominions chose to do was entirely for their selfgoverning peoples to decide. “We in New Zealand are going to increase our outlay on naval defence gradually,” he said. “At present it is costing us 8s or gs per head. The development of a new country costs a great deal of money, and precludes the expenditure of immense sums on defence.”

“PROUD OF THE EMPIRE”

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received January 20, 11.5 p.m.) VANCOUVER, January 20. “We are proud to be associated with the British Empire and all that it means, but we also recognise some of the difficulties it is possible that other portions of the Empire may have, and that it is for us to help them out where we can,” declared Mr Coates in a speech at the Canadian Club at Winnipeg. He considered that what really mattered at the Imperial Conference was the spirit of the Conference. Personally, he thought that the conclusions reached did not conflict with the resolutions of the previous Conferences. What had been written down would go in the direction of making the Empire better known, better understood, and our people more of one mind than ever before.

APPRENTICE CLASS

Australian and New Zealand Cable Association. (Received January 20, 10.40 p.m.) OTTAWA, January 19. Mr Coates spent a lively day in Winnipeg sight-seeing, and especially inspecting the Canadian National Railways model workshops. He displayed very great interest in the large apprentice class, composed of well-educated young men starting mechanical careers. Mr Coates is so convinced of the value of this educational phase of railway shop practice that he expects to order the adoption of a similar scheme upori his return to New Zealand.