EMPIRE AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, 12 August 1930, Page 5

EMPIRE AFFAIRS.

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION AT CONFERENCE. ATTITUDE OF NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT. PRIME MINISTER’S SURVEY. (By Telegraph.—“ The Age” Special.) WELLINGTON, August 11. The various subjects listed for discussion at the forthcoming Imperial Conference were dealt with in a lengthy statement made this afternoon by the Prime Minister (the Hon. G. W. Forbes) in initiating a debate on Imperial affairs in the House of Representatives. Mr. Forbes indicated on broad lines the attitude the Government proposes to adopt on behalf of New Zealand in respect to the important matters which have been set out in the agenda. Declaring that New Zealand valued its association with the Mother Country and wished to make it as intimate possible, both politically and economMr. Forbes said that the Dominion had no complaints and no demands but desired to bear its share in any measure that would serve the welfare of the Motherland and Dominions. He -emphasised the Government’s conviction that the welfare and prosperity of The Empire depended upon a continuation of the close association of the partner Governments, the policy of which should be decided after continuous consultation. The Prime Minister declared that it was not desired to alter the powers in regard to New Zealand legislation that would adversely affect the very bigh standing of New Zealand credit on the London market. On the subject of defence and foreign policy, he expressed the view that New Zealand must to a large extent be guided by the experience and necessities of the United Kingdom. Mr.. Forbes said that the Government had not altered its opinion regarding -contributing £125,000 per annum, with a maximum of £1.000,000, to the cost of the Singapore Base. Regarding the economic side of the Conference, Mr Forbes said: “We have first of all the highly important subb ject of inter-imperial trade. The Government fully recognise the importance of this subject, which is equalled only by its complexity and its difficulty of approach. The position of New Zealand is a remarkable one, inasmuch as our economic prosperity and indeed our existence are almost entirely dependent upon the sale of our primary products in the United Kingdom. Anything, therefore, that disturbs our market in that country has an immediate effect upon New Zealand, and thus, from material interests alone—a basis upon which I certainly do not wish it to be understood that we rely—we must deeply deplore the existing depression in Great We are, of course, a small community. We have our own economic difficulties and there is perhaps little that we can do to assist the Old Country. It will no doubt, be sufficient for me to say that, quite apart from our own individual interests, we shall hope to assist as best we may in any movement that promises an improvement in the economic pros"Tftrity of the United Kingdom and that we shall give earnest and sympathetic consideration to any proposition that may be laid before the Conference. I do not propose to commit the Government on the subject of ‘bulk purchases and price stabilisation.’ I am not yet aware of the proposals that will be placed before the Conference in this respect, and it would certainly be premature to express any views, but I look forward with interest to the discussion of these subjects. I am arranging to be.advised of any comments that the various New Zealand control boards may wish to make and no commitments will, of course, be made without the prior approval of the New Zealand Parliament.” The Prime Minister mentioned that it was hoped to negotiate trade agreements with Canada and with France. OPPOSITION LEADER. • SUGGESTION THAT SIR T. SIDEY SHOULD GO HOME. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, suggested that the X Prime Minister should be accompanied by a competent legal advistr with a knowledge of constitutional law and Imperial acts and named Sir Thomas Sidey as the most competent on the Government side. He was pleased to note in Mr.-Forbes’s statement that he maintained New Zealand’s traditional attitude in regard to inter Imperial relations. The policy followed of communicating information regarding foreign affairs through the Governor-Gen-eral was the right one. The last Imperial Conference adopted the method of sending trained officers from England to advise Dominion Governments on Imperial matters and he hoped that system would not be dropped. There was never a better opportunity of procloser trade relations within the and he hoped the Prime Miniswould do his utmost to encourage that movement . BULK PURCHASE. The outstanding point raised during the discussion originated with Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, who declared that in Britain p during the last seven or eight years there had been a growing feeling in favour of the bulk purchase of foodstuffs. The British Government took the initial steps by establishing the Imperial Marketing Board and the Imperial Economic Committee, which had already made a move for the better marketing of Dominion products in the Homeland. He commended this question to the serious consideration of the Prime Minister, adding that bulk purchase was the declared policy of the British Labour Government. The Prime Minister, in reply to a question from Mr. D. G. Sullivan, who also advocated the system, stated that the Government had communicated with New Zealand producers to ascertain their opinion on this question SPEECHES AGAINST AND FOR. Mr. D. Jones (Mid-Canterbury) said that on his recent visit to England, he found that the Labour Government’s idea of bulk purchase was to buy in the cheapest markets. This idea was investigated by a committee of the ImA perial Conference in 1923, which produced a valuable report and reported strongly against it. He hoped New Zealand’s delegate would follow former liuea and not support such a new and

dangerous system. Mr. W. J. Polson (Stratford) strongly advocated bulk purchasing as making for greater stability of prices to the producer. However’ he would have liked to see the producers given a proper opportunity of discussing the matter. He did not care whether the idea come from a Labour Government or not if it meant doing away with the present system. The Prime Minister, in concluding the debate, said the bulk purchase question deserved examination, and it might be possible to improve the position gradually, working up to something bigger than the large combinations that operated in New Zealand. There were also big combinations in the Old Country controlling the market to a certain extent and ff they came together, the only way to get through the fence erected between producer and consumer would be through a more powerful body than the combines and that must be the respective Governments. That position had not arisen, but a good deal could be done by thorough examination and some improvement could be effected by way of co-ordination. However, he did not see any possibility of carrying out a scheme for the purchase of the whole of this country’s products and did not think anyone contemplated such a step.