TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Southland Times, Issue 21831, 7 October 1932, Page 6

TOPICS OF THE TIMES

Decline of Trade. The marked decline in world trade during the past two years is notorious, but some figures just published showing the falling off in British exports to various countries in the last six months compared with a similar period in 1931 and 1930 are striking. In 1930 the United States was Great Britain’s principal foreign customer with purchases valued at £16,000,000 for the six months, compared with £8,300,000 in the first half of this year. To Argentina exports of British goods from January to June this year were £5,131,000 in value, compared with £8,595,000 in 1931 and £12,510,000 in 1930. Tire figures of Brazil and Uruguay have diminished by one-half, while the position in Chile was even worse, for British exports in the first half of 1932 were valued at £366,000, and in the same periods of 1931 and 1930 £1,355,000 and £3,522,000 respectively. The returns relating to exports to European countries are less depressing. Taking again the figures for the six months France, which in 1930 was Great Britain’s second best foreign customer with purchases amounting in value to £15,461,000, took £11,931,000 in 1931 and £9,294,000 in 1932. The totals for Germany in the same periods were respectively £13,644,000, £9,210,000 and £7,213,000,

Group Movement Professor W. G. S. Adams,- professor of political institutions in the University of Oxford, addressing the national summer school for the training of wireless group leaders at New College, Oxford, said that it was a mistake to suppose that English political thought and practice were on the down grade. Just the opposite was true. “There are movements in Britain to-day,” he said, “which show that both are as vital as ever. In the past the influences of English political institutions have been enormous, and those influences are still at work in the world. Modem countries are still intensely interested in what is happening in England.” One remarkable development of the twentieth century was the growth of the group movement Organized groups of all kinds were springing up all over the country in towns and in villages. These groups were voluntary and in origin not connected with the State. “The success of a democracy,” said Professor Adams, “depends on all the groups within it. A world democracy similarly has to depend on the power of the groups within.” Illustrating his meaning, Professor Adams said there were in Britain already in effect five main circles all comprising a number of groups. The smallest circle might be called local life in the community. Next came the local government circle, third, the national, as seen in Parliament at Westminster. Outside that there was the circle of the British Empire, and, finally, the international circle. “The secret of our problem to-day,” he stated, “is to understand the relations of these five groups to each other and to harmonize the inter-action of each. Small groups within these circles, whatever their purpose, are doing an important educational work, because they are training people to solve these greater problems.”

“A Great Achievement.” The Times describes the Ottawa agreements as “a great achievement.” “It is clear,” states the article, “that these agreements constitute in themselves a comprehensive plan for the promotion of trade between the different parts of the Empire; and that they lay broad foundations upon which succeeding Governments will be able to build in developing the new policy of economic co-operation. No one who understood the difficulties in the way expected that the conference would be able to accomplish more, or even to accomplish quite so much as it has done. There will be critics in plenty. Those who still cling to the outworn dogma of free imports at all hazards and at any cost to home and Empire producers will denounce the new duties which Great Britain undertakes to impose, principally on wheat and raw metals, and the arrangements for the quantitative regulation of meat imports. They will either ignore or belittle the substantial benefits which British industry is to receive in return, benefits of which the effect will be increased by the revival of prosperity among its customers in the Dominions through the advantages secured for them in the British market. Others who envisaged a conference swayed by sentimental Imperialism to the exclusion of every consideration of economic prudence or even of ordinary common sense will be equally critical. Both sets of critics may safely be disregarded. A great extension of trade preferences has been secured throughout the Empire and principles have been accepted which should bring about a further substantial reduction of the tariff barriers now blocking the channels of commerce between the different parts of the Empire.”