ROMININiON’S VIEWPOINT

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1930, Page 7

ROMININiON’S VIEWPOINT

TRADE CO-OPERATION VITAL PRIME MINISTERS’ SPEECHES NEW ZEALAND’S OUTLOOK British Wireless. Rugby, Oct. 1. ‘'Our success will be judged by the progress wo achieve towards Empire economic co-operation,” said Mr. J. H. Seitilin at the Imperial Conference this afternoon. “The instinct of our peoples is wholly right. The better ordering of our production, both our agriculture industry and our trade, have become a matter of vital urgency. "In Australia, as’ id Britain, unemployment consequent, at least in part, on the world-wdie depression has become a matter of the gravest concern. Lack of markets is prejudicing the welfare of millions of our people. The Empire could supply all its agricultural products and all but a few of its mineral products. We can guarantee one another markets for, most commodities capable of absorbing a far greater volume of production. Britain's agricultural imports bvceerf* £750,0'00,000, of which 37 per cent, are of Empii'e origin. If the Governments of the Empire decide upon a definite forward policy of economic cooperation the Commonwealth will do its part.” ’ ' '■What I welcomed most at the opening session of my first Imperial Conference was the emphasis which practically al. the speakers gave to economic problems,” declared Mr. Eorbes. “Though the actual proceedings were formal, all the Prime Ministers simply reading their speeches, the surroundings of the historic room lent dignity, and impressiveness to the occasion. Ono could not but be impressed with the fact that the delegates, though nearly all strangers to one another and to the .Imperial Conference, represent a large proportion of the world’s population.” “We meet here in circumstances in ems sens j encouraging and another depressing,” Mr. Eorbes said. ‘'The international’ situation is now greatly improved and there is increasing strength in the movement towards peace and disarmament. This\ may well give cause fur gratification. On the other hand we al e fuck a period of serious economic depression, and I earnestly trust, that the. deliberations of the conference will result in measures which will assist in alleviating the position. “Ne- Zealand is not concerned greatly in the recent developments about' constitutional relations between members of the Empire. Wo have felt always within recent years that wo have had ample scope for our national aspirations and ample freedom to carry them out entirely. We value our close connection with the United Kingdom and sister Dm.iiniohs, and we would have been well content to allow constitutional relationships to settle themselves in accordance with the necessity of the position and requirements of the time, but we recognise that considerations applicable to one Dominion are not necessarily applicable to all. It may be hoped that all questions regarding status will be settled finally at this conference. ;

COMMON POLICY SOUGHT. “In a commonwealth of six equal partners, differing markedly in history, internal organisation, industrial development,* economic orientation and centrifugal influences, there must be a tendency 'for a weakening of our association in rhe absence of some effective means of evolving a common policy of action.” Ho and his colleagues were of the opinion that the outstanding problem of the moment was the achievement of a cmnin-n understanding and common policy To this their efforts would be mainly directed. They hoped that the Governments represented would find it possible to divert their attention from status to co-operation. General Hertzog said: “I am fully conscious that one of the important functions of the conference will be finally to adjust the outstanding constitutional questions arising from the 1926 decision, which must be formally sanctioned and considered in detail.” Referring to economic policy, General Hertzog added that South Africa viewed with concern Britain’s prospective abolition of the existing tariff benefits. Britain’s position as a great commonwealth market for Dominion products must necessarily, in tlie event of a decision to change the existing policy, be detrimental to the Dominions’ interests and exercise a determining influence upon their policy. It was therefore clear that the Dominions’ eventual course must mainly depend on the manner and extent to which their interests would be affected by Britain’s policy. . •‘I hope that in no case will the conference despair of arriving at a solution which will prevent the evil efiects of any change of policy assuming a character'disastrous to those who, believing •n the stability of' intra-commonwealth economic relations, have been induced in good faith to ..make investments on the’basis of that belief.” “I can conceive nothing more destructive of commonwealth co-operation than such a failure with consequential loss of faith in stability of our economic reUticms,” General ilertzog concluded.