The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. THURSDAY, OCT. 28, 1919. IMPERIAL PREFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11928, 23 October 1919, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. THURSDAY, OCT. 28, 1919. IMPERIAL PREFERENCE.

THERE are some points in Mr Massey's political programme which deserve very full consideration. One of these is his proposal for “strengthening Imperial unity and relations by doing oar share in a social scheme of Imperial preference which will give British citizens in British countries commercial and industrial advantages to which they are indisputably entitled. ” This is the first essential of the idea of Imperial Federation and the creation of an Empire united by bonds of mutual interest. But the first step towards realisation of thia ideal must be taken by the dependencies of Britain, and this involves the removal of barriers they have erected against her. The Motherland cannot be expected to abandon her policy in trade which more than anything else created her tremendous commercial power. AVe trust that Mr Massey’s declaration indicates the growth of another idea than that prevailing when the subject of Imperial preference was first discussed. Our legislators then held the foolish notion that if they gave preference to British products by means of their Customs tariffs, Britain should establish hostile tariffs against all other countries except her own dependencies. In view of the volume of British trade and the soundness of her economic policy, this, of course, would not be adopted. Moreover, we have not yet given Britain any "preference; what [we gave was merely a sham. True preference would mean lowering the tariff barriers, or abolishing them altogether; but all we did was to raise those barriers against other nations, which has operated to our detriment, without advantage to Britain of any kind, for she has still to surmount the barriers previously in existence. We were hypocritical, for we pretended to give greater freedom while really establishing greater restriction. We suggest to Mr Massey that if he really desires to give a lead in Empire-building he should arrange for the lowering of the tariff on British goods, or to levy on them only a revenue-produc-ing duty. By this process he can, at one and the same time, aid the Motherland and fill the Treasury.

RECENT occurrences and some movements now in progress seem to indicate that before long the public services will rule the public. Already they; by reason of their numbers, community of interest, and organisation have considerable influ-

■ ence, and are able to bring pressure to bear on Ministers and Parliament. This may in some cases he beneficial to the public, and we £lo not at present question Jthe justice of any demands the various branches are making. But it is obvious that such influence may at any time be exercised in a manner detrimental to the public interest, especially as all men naturally place self-interest first. There ought to bo "some safe-

guard for the public. The State supports a very large army of servants, and the tendency is towards increase. Various remedies have been suggested, but none seems to be thoroughly acceptable. One remedy suggested is the disfranchisement of everyone in receipt of State pay. Anotner is to give the employees the right to elect a certain proportion of the members of Parliament. We make no suggestion at present, but merely point out that the position may at any crisis become dangerous to the State.