Slates Bruce’s Appeal For Imperial Preference.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17991, 30 October 1926, Page 2

Slates Bruce’s Appeal For Imperial Preference.

RIGHT HON W. RUNCIMAN ASSERTS TARIFFS SHOULD BE LOWERED, AND THEN ABOLISHED, IF EMPIRE TRADE IS TO BE FOSTERED. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.—“ Sydney Sun ” Cable. (Received October 30, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, October 29. “ We do not regard Imperial Preference as faith which must not be tampered with,” declared the Rt Hon Walter Runciman at the Free Trade Union luncheon. “We regard it as a business made by the Government for the benefit of certain business men. It is rubbish to talk about trade between Britain and Apstralia. It is not countries that trade, but individuals. Preference must be given to individuals at the expense of the general taxpayer, who has enough to bear without subsidising the Antipodes. “ Mr Bruce appeals in plain words, so I will say Australian tariffs are created to help Australian manufacturers against ours. Mr Bruce talks of a gift of £8,000,000. There was no gift in that, and the less the Australian representatives talk of gifts the better. “ There is no distinction between the purchaser of British goods happening to live in the Dominions and the foreign purchaser. Foreigners absorb three-fifths of the British export. European trade is as equally important as Empire trade. We must not injure the larger for the sake of the smaller. The only method by which politicians can foster Empire trade is by lowering, and ultimately abolishing, Empire tariffs. We have taken toll of the world’s resources for three generations, and nothing less than the world will satisfy us now.”