The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23. 1920 EMPIRE TRADE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12084, 23 June 1920, Page 4

The Rangitikei Advocate. TWO EDITIONS DAILY. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23. 1920 EMPIRE TRADE.

THE desirability of developing trade within the Empire is at last impressing itself on poliiical leaders in all portions cf it, though the means by which they-hope to accomplish it are not al vays correct, but in some cases would tend to constriction rathar fhan to development. Eet us first briefly indicate the primary requirements for trade within the Empire which will mutually benefit ail its parts and make it self-contained, always remembering. however, that under normal conditions trade with others outside the Empire must always be beneficial so both parries. The problem at present, however, is to cause the trade of the E mpire to benefit all under the flag. The primary requirements cf trace are—Production, j Manufacture, and Markets iu each of which there shall be demand. ) Then also there must be efficient means for reaching markets, either by the great ocean highway, river, railw.aj', road, or other means 'of transport Obviously, then, production -should be stimulated by every,possible means, and the best lines on which to operate would be for a country fitted for production tojdevote ife energies to that work, 'and lorve the work of .manufacturing mainly to those countries-less fitted for production and more canabie of manufacturing .at cheap cost, t us creating markets iri each.tor the outiut of the other and establishing mutually beneficial trade. The gooc* effect this would have on the unity and interests of the Empire cau, however, be greatly discounted by a foolish policy of restriction. The gateways of the trade of all portions of the Empire should be thrown wide open to the products or manufactures of the other portions, | and if any partial closing is done it should be applied only to those who may at soius time bscocue enemies. The separate parts of the Empire should never appty hostile or exclusive tariffs against each other or the Motherland, but should levy duties for revenue purposes only, not to mats it dilficr It for trading to take place, Hitherto, with strange and damaging Inconsistency, the politicians iu various parts of the Empire have themseives to the designs or ering monopolists and the na - nre lost most of the advantage' would otherwise , have accrue:! •* : -~i tr-e enormous development means of traus- j pollution, ■ os have been spent ■ 1 on railrcai- ■ ic gain easier ao- | ! cess to the ’ i:d lines of swift ji steamers i n > e r-t'-'i established to I serve as car-de:* on the great ocean |; highway. * r,!--- benefits having j i been supplied, now ever, we hare, [3

■with extraordinary and almost incomprehensible folly, at once set to work to prevent their utilisation as much as possible by erecting toll gates at the ports to make it more costly'and' difficult for traders to enter them. The avowed object is to ( exclude trade as much aa possible to “make work” tor people who could be-much more profitably employed in occupations suited to the country. And with idiotic self-sufficiency, we call this process “Protection,” forgetting that it only protects the useless and the profiteering, and most assuredly does not protect the people, who are thus compelled to pay higher prices for all their re quirements.

WE do not propose to disenss the question of protection and free trade in the abstract, but content ourselves, at present, merely with pointing out the folly of improving means of transport and then setting up obstructions to trade. We may note, however, that t ie Motherland —the heart of the Empire—cannot apply what is called a preferential tariff for the benefit of other portions of the Empire, for the reason t hat this would injuriously affect the interests of the people in the British Isles, who are to a large extent dependent on foreign countries. This is apart altogether from the fact that hostile tariffs arouse hostility and harsh trade restrictions almost inevitably lead to war. We are also dependent on the Motherland for the protection not only of our shores, but of our sea routes, and had it not been for the British Navy’s work it is certain that the iate'war would have had a very different result. Those, then, who expect the British people to give “preference” to Empire product! should realise that she could do so only by reversing the poiicy that has made Britain great and powerful. They should also understand that they are most emphatically not giving her any preference when they merely raise the tariff barriers higher against other nations without reducing thoir height against Britain. The barrier still remains as difficult to surmount.

THE way to accomplish what is necessary seem to have been in part indicated by the West Indies Conference just concluded, the result of which should receive the attention of ail political leaders throughout the Empire. The brief cabled report of its doings states that its tariff agreement provides for three scales of preference, ranging from moderate reduction in certain articles to a free list tor others, including some foodstuffs. Here then we have something like genuine preference by reduction of tariff to Britain in contrast with our sham preference by further increasing the tariff to others. Had the West Indies, how ever, applied a revenue tariff instead of a free list it would be still nearer the ideal to be aimed at to unite and benefit the whole Empire.

THE South African Minister of Mines struck the right note at the, recent Congress of the Federated Chambers of Industries at Capetown when, ater alluding to the remarkable growth of industries during the last five j'aars, he said: “On the question of State assistance ho did not think the State should run in dnstries. Assistance should only he given to industries for national purposes, not to those conducted in private interests. ” It is regrettable that our own politicians do not think and act on similar lines. If they did there would be tremendous impetus given to the work of production, the cost of living would he greatly reduced, and most of the labour unrest and friction would be ended.

AN Auckland clergyman, Rev. O. H. Grant-Oowen, last Sunday held a men’s service, and delivered an address on “New Zealand and the Olympic Games,” During the address he made the following remarks of general interest‘ ‘ Our greatest asset in the late war was undoubtedly the men who at school and college took their part in the outdoor games, thus making them physically fit, and giving to them that high sense of honour, chivalry, and courage that enabled them to play their part. Clean sport is a great moralpower in a nation and country, and we want to encourage our boys and gills to realise that it is part of their education to become physically fit, and so ha able to bear the greater responsibilities of life. There is a great danger of professionalism and gam tiling destroying real sport. Horse-racing, football, boxing and ail such sports are splendid, hut it is not sport when they become Die means of support to so many who themselves take no active part, but live upon the accomplishments of the real sportsman. The word “sport” had gradually become misunderstood, for to urge a man to “be a sport” often implied that ha should do something against hia inclination. The real sport is the man who lives up to his convictions, who has high ideals, and carries them out, who makes great sacrifices for others, and thinks of himself last. The man who can say‘no’ when he is tempted is a real sport, for it wants courage to be able to take a stand for God and right.”