EMPIRE POLICY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18597, 7 January 1935, Page 7

EMPIRE POLICY

SURPRISE SCHEME

PROGRAMME OF WORK

AT HOME AND ABROAD

LABOR PAPER’S REPORT

(Klee. Tisl. Copyright—-United Press Assn.) LONDON, Jan. 4. Tin' Daily Herald’s lobbyist says:—

“Ministers are busy drafting the fundamental points of a surprise .Empire policy, which th(> Government hopes to spring on electors in the .summer in an attempt to win the general elect ion, probably in the ant limn.

“The general idea of the scheme is that directly the King’s jubilee celebrations are over, Ministers will consult Dominion and Colonial statesmen then in London with a view to an agreement on a programme of work at home and development in the Dominions and colonies.

“In essence, the scheme is to lend large sums of money cheaply for all manner of public works, provided as much as possible is spent with British manufacturers, especially in engineering products. “When an agreement is reached, they will probably precipitate a ‘Union Jack’ election, with ttie object of stampeding the country in favor of continuing the National Government. A campaign will be launched for more work resulting in Empire expansion loans for the extension of Imperial trade, the conversion of Dominion and colonial loans to lower interest, Empire migration, and a revision of the Ottawa agreements.

“The Government’s organisers believe that the staking of a great Imperial issue on these, lines is the only way to save the situation. Between now and the jubilee there will be continual consultations with the Dominions regarding a revision of the Ottawa agreements, which will be submitted to an informal Ottawa conference when the Dominion and colonial statesmen roach London, as the first step in a new Imperial electoral progt ammo.

“Sir Maurice IFankoy is bringing back a dispatch case full of proposals for the development of Empire defence, including the unification of Australian railway gauges, for which considerable sums have to be guaranteed by Britain. The Government’s advisers believe that the country can be influenced by a broad imperial appeal, accompanied bv a scheme to settle British families in the Dominions. ’ ’