EMPIRE FREE TRADE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 75, 1 May 1930, Page 4

EMPIRE FREE TRADE

It is unfortunate that, almost at its inception, the free trade policy inaugurated by Lord Beaverbrook in the Old Country has met with' strenuous opposition in many quarters, almost suggesting that the crusadens a mere move in the game of party politics as practised at Home. Nevertheless, Lord Beaverbrook is determined to fight on, despfte powerful influences that are being brought to bear in opposition to his policy and in face of strenuous endeavours that are being made to keep asunder the powerful links that should bind the British Empire in one great economic unit. However, despite the various tactics that are being employed to thwart Lord Beaverbrook in his campaign ih Britain, the Empire Eree Trade movement has made a most tremendous advance. Mr Baldwin has pledged himself now, if returned to power at the next general eleetion, to summon an economic conference of the Empire. ITe has gone further. He savs that if, as a result of that conference, the Government of the day can work out a plan for Empire Eree Trade and impose a tax on foreign foodstuffs this will be submitted to the people of the Old Country by means of a referendum. In Lord Beaverbrook's opinibn, judging from his recent remarks, he has scored, in Mr Baldwin 's promise, a tremendous ad.vancement for the cause he is so ardently advocating. But Ijord Beaverbrook has here to contend with the little wrord "if" with all its significance and the political manoeuvrings that are associated with it. Mr Baldwin is out o'f office, and up to the present the G-overnment of the day have not shown an enthusiastic attitude to rthe very sound reasonings of the noble lord. Moreover, the -proposals that have been put forward have not met with such ready support; in various parts of the Empire as perhaps might have been expected. Australia, for instance, has deliberately adopted a policy of protection in the hope that she may be able fco create and maintain industries which will find in the home market an outlet sufficiently great to render them profitable, The Labour Government at present" in power in that country has raised the wall of profcective duties to a height which it never previously reached. Nor, judging from the cablegrams, does the Dominion of Canada view with complete favour the ideals set out by Lord Beaverbrook. Political opinion is certainly not in favour of the schemer although the farmers of the country, who are represented largely in the Liberal Party, have for long been strenuously opposed to the protective system which the Conservatives brought into force in the Dominion. A large proportion of Canadian interests hold to the belief that the abandanment of high protection would be gravely injurious to the manufacturing interests of the country. Therefore, Lord Beaverbrook and his associates in this very laudable crusade are at the outset opposed by some very difficult problems. The pqlicies of these two dominions are completely op-t posed to their conception of that which would be to the great advantage of the Empire as a whole. What could an economic conference attain in the direction of overcoming these difficulties and differences? For the present, we believe, Lord Beaverbrook's proposals will have to remain but an ideal. Each dominion has made big strides in the development of its secondary industries, and this phase alone affords opposition so formidable, we believe, as to present the appea^ance of being insurmountable. We have reeeived by overseas mail a copy of Lord Beaverbrook'srecent address to Norwich farmers. In his remarks the speaker takes a most optimistic view of Empire Free Trade and its inauguration. In the course of a most inspiring address Lord Beaverbrook said:

"I want the Dominions and Colonies to know that this is no party game, that here in Great Britain there are hundreds of thousands of men and women who have jpined the Empire Crusade who are prepared to put Empire before party. The crusade will go on, and I believe the day will come when th'fe will be a national movement which will command the general support of all parties at home and in the Empire. I shall continue to the utmost of my ability and strength to lead the Empire Crusade. I . shall give to my country, to my mother conntry of Canada, and to the whole Empire what *1 believe to -be -the best service I can render, We feel sure that little progress will be made by -the Empire Free Trade crusaders until -business men end manufacturers from various parts of !the Empire are summoned in conference to discuss 'the impoxtI * ts>

ant proposals Lord Beaverbrook'has propounded. Can the excellent ideals of the noble lord be put into practical application? The question can best be answered at the conclusion of such a conference.