EMPIRE’S BIG PROBLEMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18350, 22 August 1929, Page 9

EMPIRE’S BIG PROBLEMS.

Trade Reciprocity Vital. VIEWS OF BRITISH STATESMEN. (United Press Association—by Blectrle Telegraph—Copyright.* (Received August 21, 10.15 p.m.) MONTREAL, August 21. In an interview the Lord Privy Seal (Mr J. H. Thomas) said that the Canadians might derive considerable satisfaction from the knowledge that they would be making a considerable contribution to the alleviation of the suffering and misery among Britain’s unemployed by purchasing a larger proportion of their requirements from that country.. “We buy fifty per cent, of your wheat,” said Mr Thomas, “and it is not given to us either. On the other hand, you are buying three times as much from the United States in raw and manufactured products as you are purchasing from us. If oui*. people's spending power could be increased, it would mean much towards the solution of our greatest problem.” Mr Thomas intimated that he had had a conference with the Dominion Cabinet during his stay at Ottawa, on the subjects of emigration, Empire Economic Conference, better trade relations within the Empire, and he considered satisfactory progress had been made. Britain’s New Vitality. Speakirig at Winnipeg, Mr Winston Churchill was optimistic concerning the present status of the British Empire. The Mother Country, regardless of an opinion held by many people, was not down and out. “Britain was steadily growing in wealth, health, power and education. There was never a time of such prosperity,” Mr Churchill asserted. There was unemployment, but summing up the pessimistic reports on the situation, he said: “There is nothing which should lead anyone to believe these reports are true. The miners are the symbol of the power of our race of manpower and endurance.” The dole he describes in the words of Mr J. H. Thomas, as the “most perfect scheme for the support of the unemployed in any State or country.”