A PREFERENCE MATTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19783, 5 March 1927, Page 6

A PREFERENCE MATTER

It is somewhat amusing to read of the indignation of certain members of the British Commons because the Victorian Government accepted a tender from an Australian firm in spite of the fact that it was a little higher than a British tender. . They even went so far as to claim that this was an exclusion” of English machinery.

Considering that so large a portion of machinery imports in Australia and New Zealand is English, one smiles at the use of the word “exclusion.” Considering that Britain has consistently and for over a quarter of a century refused to grant even the faintest show of preference to Dominion goods, one wonders at the nerve of these Commoners in complaining that Victoria is not “observing the spirit of the Imperial Conference.” How wicked of Victoria to give support to an Australian, industry! Australia and particularly New Zealand have frequently accepted British tenders even when they could have purchased goods far more cheaply from the foreigner. One would think that they were entitled to a small portion of credit for that. Instead, one of these angry Commoners hinted at closing down on Dominion loans.

A few more such displays will certainly cool the Imperial preference sentiment of the Dominions and make the people of the latter ask whether there is any sense in giving preference to British godds—as they do—when they get nothing in return. Perhaps, however, it was these Commoners’ idea of a joke!