EMPIRE TRADE POLICY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 17

EMPIRE TRADE POLICY

POWERFUL INTERESTS ACTIVE ARRESTING ATTITUDE OF AUSTRALIA United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 18, 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 18. In a speech which has startled political circles, Dr. Earl Page (leader of the Federal Country Party) addressing the Grafton Chamber ol Commerce, expressed the belief that Australia could determine her Empire policy, by an emphatic declaration followed by immediate substantial action. Such a declaration of Empire policy by Australia might stimulate Britain’s sense of Empire leadership, and cause her to turn back on the fatal, doctrine of self-sufficiency in which European nations were floundering. Dr. Page went on to say that the British policy to-day was chaotic. If Australia became panic-stricken, accepting the view that Britain had abandoned her traditional policy, and sought to replace British goods by foreign, the Australian people would force the disintegration of the Empire. Britain was in a state of indecision, but it was not too late to mould her policy. “Little England,” said Dr. Page, “reacting to every European policy of tariff madness, is no use to Australia or the Dominions, but greater Britain will give a vista of hope not only to ourselves but to the world.” Dr. Page reiterated that there must be unrestricted entry of Dominion goods into Britain. BRITAIN’S FISCAL POLICY REMOVAL OF TIME LIMIT. British Official Wireless (Received May 18, 8.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 17. An order for the removing of the present time limit on iron and steel duties, was made to-day. JAPO-AUSTRALIAN TRADE. BALANCE FAVOURS COMMONWEALTH. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright CANBERRA, May 18. A special bulletin summarising trade between Japan and Australia for the first nine months of the current financial year, shows that the balance of trade is still heavily in Australia’s favour, and Australia’s exports to Japan in the period under review have increased comparatively much more than the imports. The total value of the exports to Japan in English currency was £9,820,307. The value of the imports from Japan was £2,814,690.