WORLD PERILS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 14 June 1934, Page 9

WORLD PERILS.

Economic Nationalism and Armaments. DR NORWOOD'S VIEWS. Two of the perils that beset the world to-day—economic nationalism and the machinations of the armament manufacturers—were denounced by Dr F. W. Norwood, minister of the City Temple, London, and former chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, in an interview on his arrival in Christchurch this morning. “ The same problems confront one everywhere,” he said in discutsing his fifteen months of world travel, “ overproduction and inefficient distribution. There is no shortage of material things; there is an abundance.” When asked for his views on a remedy. Dr Norwood explained that he did not believe in a cheap and ea*=y solution to a universal problem. Science, he said, had pretty well equalised conditions throughout the world; primary producing < ountries were manufacturing, and manufacturing .countries were making themselves self-sufficient in the matter of food supply. Economic nationalism was rampant and trade barriers were being made higher. These facts were indicative of the problem, although he did not think that they contained the solution. Nevertheless, it might be that nothing 'iVould prevent such systems being tried out. “ Eventually, I think they will break down.” he added. “ That will mean stagnation of export trade and a lower standard of living.”

No countries would feel the effects of such a policy as would Australia and New Zealand, continued Dr Norwood. These two countries, with their small populations, would constitute a terrific problem, for there was not sufficient people in them to maintain a healthy national life. One of the greatest needs of both the Commonwealth and the Dominion was more population. Economic Council. “ The time is past when various trades or sections of the ccmmunitv should be able to bring political pressure to bear to get prohibitive duties established in their own interests ” said Dr Norwood. “ There ought to be an economic council to review the whole field from the national point of view. For instance, there is a greatlv increased market in Japan for wool, and we are not taking in return Japanese goods. That caunc t go rn for ever. What is true of Japan is true of England herself. It is obvious that the Dominions cannot expect to find preferential markets for tf*eir t*rodue in England unless they meet England in a reciprocal wav.” On armament firms, Dr Norwood was brief. Their activities were so inevitably international, he said, that if there were not international rings (of which there was a good deal of evident which was stienuously denied) it only required one firm to supply one nation with a new weauen to force the other nations ic adopt it also. An increase in arms anywhere stimulated the trade in arms all over the world. “ I think that the time is coming, if the League of Nations is to endur?, when certain forms of armaments will be prohibited to individual nations and kept on an international basis, - ’ he added. “If we really mean to retain the League of Nations, and in my opinion it is a world necessity, then we will have to give it some executive power in times of crises.’’