IMPERIAL AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 30 July 1937, Page 8

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS

3.15, P.M. EDITION.

NEAV ZEALAND’S EXAAIPLE. REFERENCE IN COAIMONS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received July 30, 12.20 p.m. LONDON, July 29: “The criticism of the Imperial Conference concerned not so much its sins of commission but sins of omission,” said Air Pethick Lawrence (Labour) in the course of a desultory debate on Dominions affairs in the House of Commons. He complained tliat no far-reaching contribution had been made to world problems; no settlement of questions between the British race and the larger world interests; and no result as regards relations between the white and the coloured races. It was a “marking time” conference. He commended the attitude of Mr M. J. Savage (New Zealand) in holding that a real increase in world trade was impossible unless the standards of life in every country were raised. In New Zealand Mr Savage and his Government had worked consistently to raise the spending power. “I believe considerable progress has already been made,” he said. Air G. le AI. Alander (Labour), dealing with the report of tho Imperial Conference, said he traced in it a tendency towards lip service to the League, but New Zealand’s policy in this matter was refreshingly realistic. He hoped the other Dominions and Britain would follow its example. Personally, he believed the Government in practice had abandoned the idea of relying on the collective system, but the British Empire’s future depended on an effective League. Sir E. AV. Grigg (Con.) expressed the opinion that the Imperial Conference discussions went nearer realities than the report suggested. “Indeed, if certain statements which leaked out were true there was a quality about many of the discussions which all would welcome.” The world had taken notice of the fact that the Dominions- realised the importance of defence in their own spheres. , . Air Hamilton Kerr (Con.) suggested that in each capital a. committee be formed to implement Empire publicity, comprising the High Commissioners, the Press, cinema and broadcasting interests.