EMPIRE PREFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19202, 19 June 1924, Page 7

EMPIRE PREFERENCE

THE COMMONS DEBATE. ECONOMIC COMMITTEE REVIVED. Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, June 17. Sir Philip Lloyd-Grearne pointed out that the resolutions comprised the whole of the Preference proposals of the Imperial Economic Conference. He quoted the opinions of the dominions’ Prime Ministers at the conference in favour of Preference, and urged that the House should not go b.ack on the considered view of tho conference. Mr J. 11. Thomas (Colonial Secretary) said that, while tho resolutions would bo left to a free vote of tho House, and the Government would accept the verdict, the Government itself proposed to vote against tho resolutions. Ho announced that the Government had considered its earlier decision in regard to the Economic Committee, and he was prepared, if the dominions so desired, to consider the question, not on the lines of a committee as proposed, but perhaps by the creation oi a body something like the Shipping Board. The dominions would be consulted regarding that aspect of the matter. (Received Juno 18, at 9 p.m.) Continuing, Mr Thomas said it was worth considering whether it would not help Imperial unity and encourage confidence to invite not only the dominion Prime Ministers but the responsible leaders of the Opposition to the Imperial Conferences. lie knew that the latter were reluctant, but opinion which he had consulted showed the conviction that some such change was absolutely necessary in order to make the conferences more effective and more real. It would only lead to disaster to continue with the conferences' only to find when they ended that nothing whatever had been done. This would load to an agitation against tho Conference which would be disastrous to everybody. He quoted Mr W. M. Hughes as saying that if Britain asked for a high preference Australia would not give it unless she were satisfied that it would bo a good thing for Australia. He said ho could quote numerous speeches of that kind showing that the dominions would bo compelled to do as Britain did and view these questions from the standpoint of the interests of their own people. Mr Thomas deprecated the recent tendency to make the general question of Empire development a party issue. He said it was a mistake to piesnme that the dominions’ assistance in war was due to any material consideration.—Reuter. PROGRESS OF THE DEBATE. .NO IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS. LONDON, June 18. (Received Juno 18, at 7.35 p.m.) There wore numerous references to Australia in the Preference debate. Sir Philip Lloyd-Greame quoted Mr Bruce s statement that the Empire development was dependent on men, money, and markets, but be said it was idle to expect Australia to go ahead with largo developments unless she could see her way to market what she produced. Unless tho export trade were increased the unemployment problem could not ho solved: Sir John Simon, in the chief speech from the Liberal standpoint, said there was all the difference in the world between the Preference which Britain was urged to grant the dominions and that which they had granted her, as the dominion’s preference was a preference in a market which was already protected, while Britain’s preference meant the abandonment of a principle upon which her trade had been built up. Sir John Simon said that instead of promoting Imperial unity preference would be likely to create acute discord. Sir H. Page Croft (Con.) said that Britain‘s trade with Australia was stagnating, but With preference it had increased from £20,000,000 a year to £34,000,000 between 1905 and 1910. Now British trade represented 64 per cent, of Australian imports. Mr d. E. B. Seely, though a Liberal, unexpectedly made a definite pronouncement in favour of Preference. He asked what possible harm could come through any reduction of the duty on dried fruits. Ho begged the House to consider long before rejecting the first four resolutions. It would bo the gravest rebuff to the dominions to reject proposals solemnly reached at the Imperial Conference which proposed to do nothing but reduce taxation and cheapen products just because they wanted to cling to some particular idea. An adverse vote would gravely damage Imperial relations at a moment ’ when gratitude for all wo owed the dominions should make us hesitate to do anything to hurt them. Mr T. Johnson (Labour) said that if Britain told Greece that she would exclude all the products grown under sweated conditions of Labour that would be the finest Preference which she could give to Australia. It was the business of tho Labour Government to examine tho origin of imports with a view to preserving a higher standard of civilisation. Mr Haydon Guest, Secretary of the newly-formed Labour Commonwealth Group, announced his intention of voting for the first four resolutions. He hoped that other Labourites would do so as a demonstration of their desire and intention to make the British Commonwealth of nations more united. He believed that the preferences should be coupled with some kind of guarantee of the conditions of life of the working people.—Reuter and A. and N.Z. Cable. SERIES OF DULL SPEECHES. HEAVY ARTILLERY TO COME. LONDON, June 18. (Received June 18, at 7.35 p.m.) Tho Daily Chronicle’s Parliamentary correspondent, summing up the debate, says it was definitely dull, but the heavy artillery will open to-night. Mr Lloyd George was not present, and the discussion badly needed the lively switching on of new ideas. Perhaps the debate on Wednesday will supply the need.—A. and N.Z. Cable. In the House of in February last Dr Chappie asked Mr Thomas whether he had reached a decision upon the functions and scope of the imperial Economic Committee, and whether lie had selected tho British representatives. Mr Thomas replied that, after careful consideration, tho Government had concluded, particularly as the Imperial Economic Conference itself had not been unanimous on the subject, that a, standing Economic Committee, with general terms of reference, would not assist the co-operation of tho Governments, and therefore tho Government could not support, the adoption of the recommendations. Dr Chappie asked whether that meant that the committee had been dropped. Air Thomas: Y T cs.