THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 13 (Supplement)

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

The claim was made by Mr Ramsay MacDonald, in a speech at the Crystal Palace last month, that “if the Dominions and ourselves are to devise an economic and industrial policy which will be beneficial to all of us, the Labour Government has a better chance of bringing about that agreement than a Government of any other party in this country.” Commenting on this view the Times remarked that it would not be enough to consider, however readily and however candidly, suggestions that may be put forward by other Governments of the Empire. “In the great, problem of the economic reorganisation of the Empire the lead should come from the Government of the United Kingdom, still incomparably the most important economic unit of the Empire both in producing and in purchasing power,’’ it declared. “The Government must enter the conference with suggestions and with a policy of its own. and must have ready to hand the information needed to make discussion profitable. It has the great advantage that the necessity of an economic policy for the Empire is now universally recognised and that the old prejudices and prepossessions which formerly clogged the way are rapidly disappearing. The report of the Econ omic Committee of the Trades Union Congress, the joint statement of leading bankers, and the report of the British Predatory Committee, representing the great industrial, commer cial, and shipping organisations, are all eloquent of the movement of public opinion and of its demand for a posi five construction policy framed to meet the needs of the present generation and unhampered by the theories which a previous generation evolved to meet its own very different circumstances.” The Times proceeded to demonstrate ;hc agreement among these documents that “in negotiating reciprocal trade irrangcments with other parts of tho Empire, we should be ready to impose any duty on any foreign goods which is accessary for the conclusion of a mutuill v advantageous agreement.” li. it remarked:—“When the Imperial Conference meets in Septem her the Government will have one of the greatest openings for constructive itatesmanship that any Ministry could lesire. If they fail to rise to the level jf the opportunity which it offers it vill not be because public opinion has ’ailed to let them know beforehand (that it hopes ami expects from them.”