FACING EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 October 1926, Page 9

FACING EMPIRE PROBLEMS.

Parliamentarians Confer

MESSAGE TO PRIMARY PRODUCERS. By Cable —Press Association —Copyrlfht. Australian and N.Z. Cable AbSOclatloD. SYDNEY, October 7. At the conference of the Empire l’arliamentary delegates, discussing Empire trade, Mr A. V- Alexander (British Labour M.P.) said if the primary producer in the Dominions was to gain an increasing he'd on the British market he must, be organised to prepare and grade his product right to the stage when it reaches the consumer in England. Ho was sure that that had as yet not been accomplished. There had been great development in co-operative organisation in New Zealand. It was better than in the other Dominions. In Australia, it was progressing, and in Canada, it liad been started, hut it needed further development. Until the co-operative producers of the Dominions really got a grip of that they would see the ,tragic things that happen, owing to the enormous spread of price between the producer and the consumer. There remained something for the Dominions to do in, reducing that spread of price. As to quality and grading, there was need for strong discipline, either by the countries exporting or by the producer* themselves. The Dominions’ standard of product was improving every year. As Parliamentary secretary in relation to the Great British co-operative movement of over 5,00,000 members, he could say that in hundreds of their cooperative shops Neiv Zealand butter had displaced Danish butter. PTo concluded by saying that it was impossible to develop as an Empire economically if each placed the country before the Empire. The Empire should be used as a lever for economic deS'clopment.

Labour and Immigration. Speaking at the State dinner to the Empire Parliamentary delegates, Mr Lang said emphatically that the State Labour Party was not opposed to immigration. They wanted cordially to wolcomo as many immigrants ns they could assimilate, but they were a young nation and tlieir financial resources were limited. If the delegates could influence British capitalists to supply the money necessary for fuller development of the primary and secondary industries they could send as many Immigrants hs the industries would absorb ) without driving out local residents. Lord Salisbury, replying, said neither he nor the Government had any influence over the City, of London investment of money, which depended entirely upon the security offered. He could assure them that if they offered sufficient security the City of London would tumble head over heels to offer whatever money was wanted. Capital howe’ver, was a shy article; there must be confidence by the investor; the rest was plain sailing.

Business, Not Sentiment. Spoaking at a luncheon to Major Bryan Cooper, of the Irish Free State, the Hon. John Barr (New Zealand), said the Parliamentary Delegation was not here primarily to put people on the land, but to consider how all industries might ho developed, and to learn. A committee, like a conference of Prime Ministers should be gathered to formulate some scheme for free trade within the Empire, but we must roaliso that it is useless to depend upon sentiment. Where a business deal was .being made everything should be made practicai and efficient. AFRICAN SECESSION POLICY.

GENERAL HERTZOG CRITICISED. Bjr Cable—Prose Association—Copyright, Australian aod N.Z. Oablo Association. CAPETOWN, Octobed 6. A number of patriotic associations, including the Sons of England and the Unity League of Empire group, cabled to the British Premier repudiating in the name of the Loyal English! )i,nd Dutch natives the published views of General Hertzog on tho sovereign independence of the Dominions, and also th(* interpretation given by the Nationalist Government to the Constitutional status of the Dominions under the Troutv of Versailles, declaring that General Hertzog speaks only for a section of his partly, and has not abandoned liis secession policy.