IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18760, 13 January 1923, Page 9

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

MR BELCHER'S VIEWS. Press Association—By TcWgroph— Copyright LONDON, January 11. Mr E. A Belcher lectured at the Colonial Institute on “The Development of Trade Within the Empire in Relation to the Empire Exhibition. ’ Sir Joseph Cook, who presided, deprecated the custom of British shopkeepers in displaying Danish and other foreign produce while keening dominion products in the background. It was about time that British salesmen stopped giving preference to the foreigner. Mr Belcher pointed out that everv dominion gave Britain preference, and it was imperative that Brita : n should reciprocate, otherwise tra.de would be diverted to foreign countries. He instanced motor cars, which were practically limited to the United States. He pointed out that Britain imported less than one-hundredth part of her currant supplies from the dominions. Ninety-nine per cent, came from Greece. He suggested that Britain should admit dominion currants duty free for five years.—A. and N.Z. Cable. TMr Belcher recently toured the dominions on behalf of the Empire Exhibition.]