EMPIRE FREETRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21018, 6 May 1930, Page 10

EMPIRE FREETRADE.

“ DEAR FOOD OBJECTIONS. —— / A VENERABLE BOGEY. » SIR JAMES PARR’S VIEWS. (From Our Owh Correspondent.) LONDON, March 27. Following a public meeting of Empire Crusaders' which Sir James Parr addressed at Seaford (Major Willis, Mayor, presiding), the former High Commissioner for New Zealand spoke again at Eastbourne, tg a Women’s Institute gathering. On each occasion his remarks were on similar lines—combating the attack on “ Food Tax ” and Dearei Food,” cries of which will resound all over England in the not-distant-future prior to the next General Election.

“Critics who say that Empire Freetrade will spell ‘ Dearer Food,’ and ivlio talk about ‘Food Taxes,’ have not studied the question,” said Sir James. “ They fail to understand the tremendous capacity of the Dominions for food production. Indeed, the question of securing markets for their ever-increasing products is becoming an anxious'problem for many dominions. As an instance New Zealand has increased her production of butter and cheese by ISO per cent, in a few years, and with intensive cultivation will go on increasing her supplies. The fact is the dominions, if assured of & sheltered British market, could easily supply, the foodstuffs now purchased from' foreign nations, “Already the-dominions and colonies send us many articles of ordinary diet. Here are a few instances:—(l) New Zealand and Australia already supply two-thirds of all imported mutton and lamb and could easily increase these supplies; (2) the dominions already supply- England with 83 per cent, of ail imported cheese, New Zealand being responsible for 55 per cent. Canada and Australia could supply much more wheat than Britain could consume. 'Already all the rice and oatmeal eaten in Britain comes from within the Empire. One halt of the imports into Britain of butter and cheese come from the Dominions, and supplies arc rapidly . increasing every year. As regards tea 85 per cent., cocoa 90 per cent., sugar 70 per cent., all come from within the Empire; indeed, the Empire is largely self-supporting, /with an unrivalled future productivity capacity. “ Only 0 per cent, of the Empire land is as yet under arable cultivation. Moteit must not be forgotten that the English farmer, if suitably safeguarded, could greatly increase the home supplies. There would be ample food supplies. “ Tlie cry of ‘ food taxes ’ is a venerable bogey to scare the English electorate. The increase, if any, in the price would he inconsiderable as compared with the benefits derived from increased orders for British manufactures that would come from the dominions. Australia and New Zealand are spending nearly £50,000,000 every year with foreign nations. Much of this could bo diverted to Britain if New Zealand could get a sheltered market, in England for her food stuffs.”

Sir James concluded by stating that a bargain mutually profitable could bo made by the Home countries and the Overseas territories, but Great Britain must first give her Government power to negotiate. She was the only country of note in the world which had no power, because of her Froctrade system to negotiate or make a trade bargain. Every dominion bad this power and already excellent trading results were flowing from inter-dominion treaties. New Zealand had treaties with Canada and Australia, Why not follow such useful precedents ? .

On each occasion Sir James’s remarks were listened to very intently, and he received much applause at the end of his speech-