On Thursday, July 29th, the House of Commons discussed Colonial
Affairs. Mr. Thomas urged among other things that oppositions as well as governments should be represented at the Imperial Conference in order to ensure continuity of policy, an attractive plan but not a new one ; and that buying in bulk of Colonial produce for retail here should supersede private enterprise. He held up the example of the close wool- market during the War, forgetting apparently that this was as much a matter of restriction for purposes of the blockade as of supply. We admit that war gives the best chance to Socialism, because people are willing to be " organized," and to give to government offices unlimited service without regard to personal reward, with the result that the wool monopoly begun by the War Office developed into a well-managed and on the whole successful business. But we cannot see either Australasia or Bradford or Coleman Street sitting down happily under a perpetual " B.A.W.R.A."
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