The Daily News FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1930. TIES OF EMPIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 8

The Daily News FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1930. TIES OF EMPIRE.

With a Labour Government in power in the Mother Country almost anything seems possible except taking practical steps to improve and cement those partnership ties that denote the reality of unity and the fundamental principles which govern those ties. The Enipire is now faced with the fact that Britain under a Labour regime has refused to solve the vital problem of economics in the only njanner that is likely to further the best interests of her own people and at' the same time, improve the .outlook of those in the Dominions who buy from and sell to the Old Country such commodities as each can supply to the other. ly holding fast to a fetish that was serviceable in days, of the past, when world conditions were favourable to the canons of free trade, the present Government has adopted the suicidal attitude of making (the country the dumping ground for cheap foreign goods and -thereby ruining, its own industries, at a cost of many millions a year for unemployment dole's, instead of protecting those industries in order to meet present world conditions. The Units of the Empire proved to the full in 19.14 and the following years of the Great War, their willingness not only to make enormous sacrifices on Britain’s behalf but also to shoulder all the other burdens the. effect of which is still pressing heavily upon their resources. While no regret is felt at the performance of a manifest duty' in the defence'of the Empire, there has been created, as the result of a deplorable lack of discernment on the part of Labour administrators, a serious situation, that bids fair to be fraught with consequences by no means favourable to Empire unity. How. can. there be a unilateral unity? The idea is utterly absurd. If unity means. anything it signifies oneness of purpose, of aim, of principle and of common benefit. Yet when the Prime Minister of, the oldest Dominion of the Empire propounded a scheme of reciprocity which he believed contained the best solution of the urgent problem of closer' economic associations and was Calculated to meet ‘\our individual and common needs, ’’ the British Labour Government, through its Minister for the Dominions, Mr. J. 11. Thomas, “condemned it beyond the possibility of further discussion,” and without offering any positive alternative proposal. .He even went to the length of insulting Mr; Befmett by referring to Canada’s offer .as “humbug. Naturally, Mr. Bennett, resented such tactics and made a reply, that is aptly described by the London Daily Telegraph as “crushing, sucli as has never been published during the history of relations between Britain and the Dominions,’ despite periods of transient disagreement.”' What 1 else could be expected from, a Government that has taken Soviet Russia under its wing and allows the Moscow Communists, to work their evil ways ini Britain with impunity? There is 'consolation to be found in the further comment by the Daily Telegraph to the effect that:the British Labour Government “is tottering to its fall; it has been dealt a fatal blow by this revelation.” There is a potent object lesson in this sorry business of “monkeying” with the ties of Empire, for it emphasises in no uncertain, manner the dangers attaching to Socialist regimes. There is yet another tie of Empire that is now attracting attention, namely, that of the direct connection between the King and the various units by means of a Governor-General, Governor or Administrator. In considering this matter it is imperative to bear in mind that in theory, as well as in fact, these representatives of the Crown are regarded as a personal tie between the Sovereign and the people of the various units of the Empire, but not as ’ actual participators in the democratic system of government. The reasons for such representatives of the Crown being independent of political and other influences must be. obvious to all who realise the nature of the duties to be performed. If they are to truly represent, the reigning monarch it is only reasonable that they should be selected by him on the adv-ice of his Ministers —at Home and overseas. Naturally, it is important that holders of these exalted offices should be acceptable to the units concerned. It is of equal importance that they should be independent in .order to safeguard the constitution. A new departure has been, inaugurated by the Federal Government of Australia in selecting for recommendation to the King the appointment of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia as Governor-General. Whether this historic change is justified need not be discussed. Without doubt the selection is a worthy recognition of merit, but, as the London Daily Times pertinently remarks: “Australians may reflect on the disadvantage of leaving the Commonwealth’s highest post as a ( prize for men who have, taken sides in party politics.” That is the’crux of the whole matter.

THE 'CRISIS AMONG FARMERS. Two appeals were made to the Government on Wednesday for assistance in overcoming economic difficulties which seriously affect the dairy industry. The first was a plea for some way of assisting farmers to carry on until the value of exports and the cost of production show better relationship than is the case at present. The only definite suggestion was that relief be afforded by means of a moratorium, but in regard to this there were differing points of view even among the members of the deputation that made it. All agreed upon the necessity for relief of some sort being afforded, and on this point the evidence before the Government is overwhelming. It was stated by a member of the Dairy Control Board, Mr. J. R. Corrigan, that dairy farmers’ returns would be £6,000,000. below those of last season, and, as many of them are aware, the margin between success and failure then was not a large one. The Government was sympathetic, but, not unnaturally, perhaps, made it clear that no such sum by way of subsidy could be provided by ■ the State. Ministers promised inquiry and expressed a sense of the seriousness of the position, about which, unfortunately, there can be no two opinions. It is perfectly evident that the question of costs of production will have to be faced, and the sooner this is done the soner .will the commencement of better days'arrive. There is, unfortunately, not much hope of a marked improvement in prices obtainable for New Zealand products. There is room, ample room, for a reduction in costs of production, and it is to that method of relief that the efforts of the- State can and should be directed. Of inquiries there has been a surfeit, The facts are only too;,, plain, •and upon the resolution with which the Government faces them and applies a remedy will depend its reputation for statesmanship. The Second deputation was in regard to the. issue of coupons by-retailers to local purchasers of butter, a practice which is. resulting in, a lower price being obtained by dairy factories for 'their product, the reduction throughout the Dominion being likely to be upwards of £lOO,OOO. It would seem at first sight that the remedy for this lies in the hands of the industry itself. Legislative interference with ordinary conimerce often proves, a two-edged sword, and the Dominion is not anxious to see any more of it than can be avoided. Apparently the difficulty is to obtain unanimity among tlie dairy factories to prevent the retail sale of- butter with the coupon system super-added. Certainly the present is no time for still further reducing the price the farmer is receiving for his butterfat, and the movement for the prohibition of the coupons has also the support of many retailers. ' The'Ministry lias promised inquiry into the best method of dealing with this problem also, and for the moment this is perhaps as far as it could be expected to go. If, factories and retailers could come to a working arrangement without the intervention of the State it would probably prove more satisfactory in the long run than any arbitrary legislation.