ECONOMIC CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15273, 25 June 1923, Page 5

ECONOMIC CONFERENCE.

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICY STATEMENT BY GENERAL SMUTS. RECIPROCITY AND PREFERENCE. - Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. Received June 25, 12.30 p.m. CAPETOWN, June 24. In the Assembly General Smuts initiated a discussion upon the agenda at the forthcoming Economic Conference. Referring to reciprocal preference between various parts of the Empire he declared that preference hitherto had been largely to the advantage of Britain rather than the Dominion producers. He was sure the question of Imperial preference was going tq be revived. The position South Africa would adopt would be to welcome any assistance the British people would give in the way of preference to South African products. Owing to the British fiscal policy the field for preference was the smallest and most limited. That was where the question would arise, and Australia and New Zealand were going to press mo&t i strongly for a very much stronger measure of preference being accorded to their products. South Africa was not going to press the British Government to change their fiscal policy, which was a question the people of Britain must settle, but he was going to point out that from the Dominions' point of view, large advantages would accrue to the Empire from widened preference. South Africa, in regard to her fiscal policy in general, would adopt the same line as Canada had done. He emphasised that the development of South Africa would require a very wide expansion of their markets throughout the world, and whatever arrangements they might make at the conference they would not be of an exclusive character. ; They had not present preference to Britain, and reciprocity with the Dominions, but it might be that in years to come they would have to reshape their policy on different fiscal lines. 'The dooi- should be left open to develop trade with other countries, and the policy should be reshaped to make it possible to,distinguish between countries who treat us badly. He stressed the need for better Empire shipping and other communications, and properly-regula-ted overseas settlement. Ho foreshadowed that the Gova/nment proposed to appoint a Trade Commissioner for the United States and Canada.