MR BALDWIN SUPPORTS THE CANADIAN SCHEME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19198, 11 October 1930, Page 1

MR BALDWIN SUPPORTS THE CANADIAN SCHEME.

COMMITTEE CONSIDERS IMPERIAL RELATIONS.

(Received October 11, 11.30 am.) RUGBY, October 10

Mr Stanley Baldwin (Conservative leader) has issued a statement in which, referring to the offer made by the Prime Minister of Canada at the Imperial Conference on Wednesday, he says: “The great principle of Imperial preference embodied in that offer is one to which we must, and do, subscribe.” He announced that the Conservative Party would formulate its own proposals for carrying the principle into effect and would submit them to the country at the next election for final and definite assent. Mr Baldwin will issue a further statement next week upon his party’s policy. The chiefs of the delegations to the Imperial Conference have under consideration many proposals directed towards the expansion of inter-Imperial trade and will give them all careful examination. A third meeting of the committee o! the Imperial Conference on certain aspects of inter-Imperial relations was held this afternoon at the House of Lords under the chairmanship o 1 the Lord Chancellor. Exchanges ol views took place and certain questions were referred to the committee, including questions relating to the issue of exequaturs (official written recognitions), to foreign Consuls and the form and ratification of treaties. These matters raise technical points of procedure in which, generally speaking, questions of principle are of minor importance. No further formal consideration was given to-day to the economic problems before the Conference. The position regarding them is that certain suggestions placed before the Conference at the plenary session on Wednesday indicated in particular the views of the Dominions on the one possible method of improving Empire trade, namely tariffs and preference. These and other proposals on the same subject, some of which were indicated in the preliminary agenda of the Conference, are being closely examined. Regarding preferences there is some experience to work upon in these examinations, and their effect and value and the desirability of continuing, or extending, the system is one of the subjects of study. Another question which has beea taken up is that of wheat, and conversations are actively proceeding between delegates interested in producing and marketing wheat.