EMPIRE CONFERENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19013, 8 November 1923, Page 7

EMPIRE CONFERENCES

DRAWING TO A CLOSE. VALUABLE WORK DONE. UNITY OF EMPIRE ADVANCED. Special to Australian Press Association. LONDON, November 6. There is apparently an earnest endeavour to conclude the Imperial and Economic Conferences by this week-end. The situation is largely governed by the fact that the Imperial Parliament will reassemble next week, and the attention of the British Ministers will be occupied with their duties. It is safe to predict that the Economic Conference will result in a number of decisions of advantage to the trade and commerce of the Empire. In regard to the Imperial Conference, though no definite pronouncements are yet available, undoubtedly the discussions will result in the advancement of Jianpire unity. Resolutions dealing with the all-im-portant subject of Preference and overseas settlement will be dealt with by the Economic Conference this week. (Received Nov. i, at 8.25 p.m.) The Economic Conference got through a good deal of work to-day in regard to committee reports, and the Agenda items are rapidly tapering off.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AN ECONOMIC COMMITTEE. PROPOSAL tIY MR BRUCE. LONDON, November 6. The Economic Conference passed a resolution, moved by Mr Bruce, for the establishment of an Economic Committee, analogous to the Shipping Committee, Canada being the only dissentient, on the ground of the danger of the duplication of, the machinery. (Received Nov. i, at 8.25 p.m.-) Mr Bruce, in moving the resolution, emphasised the fact that it would be no part of the committee’s duties to interfere with dominion tariffs, which Canada seemed to apprehend might be the case. Mr Bruce pointed out that there were many ciuestions on which the dominions might desire to secure an impartial view-. For instance, the question of dumped goods which passed through England trom foreign countries with a view to securing preference overseas might arise, and the committee might prove useful, in determining the country of origin of such goods. There was also the matter of depreciated exchanges on w-hich the committee’s advice would be sought.—A. and N.Z. Cable. BRITISH COMMONWEALTH. MR BRUCE OPPOSES FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. Braw. A ttoi- n.tl on—By Telegraph—OopTrlPflrt LONDON, November 6. At a dinner at the Institute of Public Administration in honour of the dominion Prime Ministers, Lord Haldane, who presided, envisaged an Empire of independent nations sending diplomatic representatives to London and vice versa. Mr Bruce said he believed that the Colonial Office fully recognised that times had changed, and that the dominions insisted on the position which they had achieved for themwlves. He strongly condemned the idea of an Empire federation and Empire Parliament, w-hich, ne said, would be a ghastly mistake if it were attempted. The dominions insisted on their ow-n navies being under their own control. He added that the dominions must have absolute independence combined w-ith close-linked co-operation in the hour of peril. —Reuter.