TRADE POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 197, 20 August 1919, Page 8

TRADE POLICY.

ANNOUNCEMENT WANTED. RESTORATION OF FINANCE. GREATER PRODUCTION. (Received 2.20 p.m.) ; LONDON , , August 10. : hi the House of Commons to-day Mr. \V. Adamson, Leader of the Labour party, following- .Mr. Lloyd George, said that although it was nine months since the armistice was signed there was no ' sign of a. return to normal conditions. If it was trim that the Government, since the war, had sold 101 ships to foreign countries it was a foolish transaction which would cripple the elTorts to restore the financial position. The Labour party agreed that there was necessity for increased production. This could not be achieved without scrapping much existing machinery in industries, ajid al=o without the employment of machines , hitherto not used. ! The country would not tolerato the Government spending at the present rate. Ho urged -Mr. Lloyd George to drastically cut. down the estimates of thp Xavy. Army, and Civil Services, and pressed tlii; Government to make the Profiteering Bill retrospective, thereby recovering one tliMisand millions liom profiteers. Lord Robert Cecil regretted that Mr. Llnyd lieurge had postponed his industriiil statement till the last day of the session, permitting the minimum debate. He deprecated the withdrawal of British troop* from ihe Caucasus, allowing the continuance of massacres of the Armenians, who should -have immediate , help. 1 Ihe newspapers reflect a certain ' amount of disappointment at the Premier's speech, mainly as the result of unauthorised anticipations, but general approval is expressed, except on controversial topics like nationalisation of the mines. Some disappointment is expressed that a. settled trade policy was nut announced, declaring that manufacturers and traders are anxious to have it settled to enable them to go ihcad. I but it is generally recognised that the Premier refrained from raising vexed lisral controversies at the present juncture. I J'rcetradero are gratified at the re- ' moval of the restrictions, and tariff re- ' Juniicjs n.re gratified at the retention of. i-a!Vgu:iiils \vhJ<-h are a key to industries j uinl tii<> prevention of dumping. 1 Though there -was little reason tor ex- ' pecttrif,' a declaration of Irish policy, regret i< expressed at the .i':»c.nce of a 1 ."tatement on the pi-in;. The principal measure of di'cippointment arisct- from tli.- absence of positive jneasures to j reduce national expenditure.