DEFENSE AND TRADE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 96, 28 August 1923, Page 5

DEFENSE AND TRAD E

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

MR MASSEY’S VIEWS.

Press Association—Copyright. Australian aud N.Z. Cable Association. London, August 27.

The Morning Post publishes an interview by its correspondent with Mr W. F. Massey regarding the Imperial Conference, in which Mr Messey emphasised the importance of discussing Empire defence and Empire trade as correlated problems, and urged the necessity of the Prime Ministers of the Empire having dirWt access to the Sovereign through the British Prime Minister.

The Post, commenting on the interview, welcomes Mr Massey’s affirI Ination that New Zealand is willing, 'to take her share in Imperial defence, and says: “Mr Massey states the cafee for Empire proferenc with unanswerable logic. The demand for this is now irresistible, especially as a Conservative Government is in power in Britain, and whose policy is: not parochial, hut Imperial.” WISHES OF AUSTRALIA. Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, August 27. Speaking at a luncheon prior to his departure for the Imperial Conference, Mr S. M. Bruce (Federal Premier) said it was essential that the Dominions should take a share in framing the policy of the Empire. Referring to the lack of Australian defence, he said there was only one practical scheme, and that was an Empire scheme, in which Australia must be prepared to play her part and no longer leave the burden on the shoulders of England. The. Prime Minister refuted a suggestion that he wished to turn the great unwritten constitution that hound Australia and Britain into a hidebound constitution. He concluded with a statement that the true interpretation of the feeling of the people of Australia was a desire for closer trade relations, which would be mutually beneficial to the whole Empire. Australia did not want a preferential tariff that would throw a further burden on Britain.