IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 18931, 3 May 1923, Page 5

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

SAFEGUARDING EMPIRE’S TRADE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 1. The Hon L. C. M. Amery in an article in the Empire Review on men of the Empire and settlement development says: The real, indeed, the obvious solution of the problem lies in whole-hearted acceptance by each part of the Empire of the principle of Imperial preference. By it local and Imperial interests can in every case be safeguarded and mutually harmonised. Mr Amery explains that by whole-hearted preference he means something more than the present tentative and partial preferences. An all-round fifty per cent, preference which would give the Empire producer an advantage over the foreigner, equal to the advantage enjoyed over him by the home producer, probably represents the best practical policy to aim at. Whatever taxation or legislation can give a bias in favour of Empire trade or development ovef foreign trade that bias should be given. Preference could be given by remitting stamp duties on transfers while the serious barrier to finance movements by exchange fluctuations might be removed by the creation of a uniform currency system. QUESTION OF DOMINIONS’ FOODSTUFFS. LONDON, May 1. Captain Wedgewood Benn asked in the House of Commons whether the Government would concede at the Imperial Conference preferential treatment to the dominions in the matter of important foodstuffs.

The Hon. Stanley Baldwin, replying, said that it was inadvisable to anticipate the discussion on the subject. Mr Wedgewood Benn: Does that mean that this House will not be allowed to form or shape the policy to be presented to the Conference by our representatives?

Mr Baldwin: I think, we must wait and see what will be proper for us to consider. Mr Wedgewood Benn: Does that mean that the House will be only presented with the decisions reached without being asked what its views are? Mr Baldwin: It is difficult to discuss in the Commons a subject which one does not know will be raised or not.