INTER-EMPIRE TRADE.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16654, 20 November 1925, Page 5

INTER-EMPIRE TRADE.

CONFERENCE IN WINNIPEG

FREE-TRADE CRITICISED

COLD-BLOODED AND SELFISH

(Reuter.)

WINNIPEG, November IS

The annual national economic conference of the Canadian Board of Trade is sitting at Winnipeg. . Delegates from all the provinces are in attendance. At to-day’s session the question of Imperial trade relations was discussed.

A resolution was carried urging upon tlie Dominnion Government that the development of Imperial trade relations and of trade within the Empire should be its chief objective, and that whatever steps may be necessary to promote the development of Empire trade should be taken by the Government.

A resolution was also adopted urging the Government to immediately create a non-political advisory board or commission on colonisation and agricultural development. The motion suggested that this should be composed of Canada's leading experts on the subject and of skilled business men, who should make an early investigation of the feasibility of a great agricultural and colonisation forward movement, including a scheme of moderately-assisted settlement to be made available to. desirable agricultural settlers of European and American origin.

The formation of a Dominion Board of Trade was. agreed upon. In the course of an address Mr 11. 0. Bell-Irving, a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade, characterised Britain’s free-trade policy as “a coldblooded and selfish doctrine.” The speaker uttered a warning against what he termed “the dangers of benevolent aloofness.” lie maintained that this policy should have been scrapped 25 years ago. If it were persisted in it might wreck the Empire. “Canada first and the Empire next” should be tiie watchword of the Dominion.

An appeal for trade within the Empire was also made by Mr W. F. Cockshutt, of Ontario, an agricultural manufacturer. He said this would be the best method of keeping the Empire together. Every need which human ingenuity could suggest could he satisfied within the Empire.

The Dominions, by helping Britain to bear the tremendous financial burdens under which she was tottering, would make “Uncle Sam” sit up and toke notice.