VITAL TO EMPIRE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19137, 5 October 1936, Page 13

VITAL TO EMPIRE

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE CONSERVATIVES WARNED IMPORTANCE OP OTTAWA GROWTH OF DOMINIONS (TSlnc. Tel. Gopyripht—United Press Assn.) (Roed. Oct. ::, .Vp.Hi.) LONDON, Oct. '-'. Tim necessity for Imperial preference for the maintenance of the Empire was emphasised by Mr. Neville Chamberlain, deputising for the Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, at the Conservative conference. "It is suggested that we should, as early as possible, free ourselves from the Ottawa agreements in order to treat foreigners more generously than our own Dominions," ho said. "1 believe that we will sec the end of the Empire if that view is adopted. "We are accustomed to hear of the dangers of fascism and communism, and to speak of three great count lies, namely, the United States, Prance, and Britain, as the remaining strongholds of democracy. Are not Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and smith Africa also democracies.' Have not they room for n vast increase of population its soon as economic conditions justify? Who can say how far they will advance in half n century in numbers, resources, and power? "The United Kingdom has no customer to compare to the Dominions, but cannot expert them to abstain from dcveolping their own industries."