BASIS OF PREFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 12, 15 January 1924, Page 7

BASIS OF PREFERENCE.

GIVE AS WELL AS TAKE. HINT TO THE DOMINIONS. "The Dominions must understand that if England gives them preference it does not mean that they are to be allowed to make the British taxpayer pay mort money in order that they can buy American motor cars," declared Sir Arthur Mansfield, Controller of Fat! and Oils in Great Britain during the war, in an interview with a "Star" representative to-day on the arrival of the Maheno from Sydney. Sir Arthur is making a tour of the British Dominions, and has already been to South Africa and Australia. On the subject of preference, he said the ordinary man in the street at Home did not want preference if it meant a dearer breakfast table. But the ques tion had not been clearly put to the electors at the last election. The Motherland needed some one who could .place the matter properly before the nation, and Sir Arthur thought thai such a man would be found eventually His own view was in favour of prefer ence, if preference meant the unity o: the whole Empire. All primary and secondary industries he said, ought to have a barrier round them within the Empire, and any out siders that broke through ought to be taxed. He criticised the attitude 01 take all and give nothing, which the Dominions adopted. In South Africa and in Australia he had found that thej bought the cheapest products possible going to any market for' the purpose while they got the best price they couk from Britain. The aim seemed to be t< get the best price in England for woo and buy American motor cars. Thai one-sided policy would not do. The attempt of Dominions and Colonies to develop their secondary industries he considered was rather a mistake These countries were essentially agricul tural and England was industrial. Aus tralia was trying to become industria and was failing in agriculture. There was a decided drift from the backwoods into the cities, where the atmosphen and life were at least three years behini that of English towns. He believee there was still a time of retribution and that Australia did not realise thai we were poorer and not richer because of the war.