NOT DEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 78, 2 April 1932, Page 9

NOT DEAD.

BRITISH FREE TRADE MEETING IN LONDON. Viscount Snowden Claims Policy Balanced Budget. PROTECTION POSITION WORSE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) KUGBY, April 1. The Liberal Ministers in the National Government who, in accordance with the agreement to differ arrangement, are at liberty to express their views on the tariff question, have sent messages to the International Conference to Promote Free Trade, held in London to-day. Sir Herbert Samuel, in his letter, said that if there was a prospect that the lowering of tariffs would be simultaneous, the hopes of success would be vastly enhanced. All parties in Britain had declared their support of such a movement, which would immensely ease the international situation and thereby improve economically the conditions of every country. Viscount Snor.'den, Lord- Privy Seal, presiding at the afternoon session, declared that free trade in Britain was not dead. He referred to the balancing of the Budget as a magnilicent testimony to free trade.

Britain unde!» free trade had raised the largest revenue produced by any State in the world, and had a financial and Budgetary position sounder and more substantial than that of any protectionist country.

Unparalleled, world-wide depression and unemployment were attributable to the fact that the world had not organised tlie distribution to deal with its production, mainly due, in liis opinion, to the artificial restrictions which countries had imposed to hinder the free exchange of commodities.

MARKETING BOARD.

Price of Upkeep Should Be Borne By Empire. WORK FOR THE FUTURE. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 1. Regarding the Order-in-Council issued for the marking of imported butter, the "Manchester Guardian" says that if the Marketing Board continues after the Ottawa Conference the duty of paying for it should no longer be Britain's .responsibility. If the Empire gets preference it can pay for its own advertising. Alternatively the board might be transformed into a real Marketing Board, working out the thorny problems which are bound to arise between the competing Empire producers. BUDGET ACHIEVEMENT. BRITAIN'S EFFORT PRAISED. LONDON, April 1. The "Daily Mail" says the Budget achievement is wonderful. No other country in the world can show such an excellent result. The yield from income tax and surtax is magnificent. After one of the darkest periods of Britain's financial history daylight at last is visible. "The Times" says the Budget results are highly gratifying, proving that the country has been able to support its gigantic burden. But it must be remembered that the surplus has been achieved by the collection of one and a quarter years' income tax in a single year, which cannot be repeated. The tax receipts are bound 1;o fall this year because they will be levied upon lower profits. The 1931-32 tariff revenue, tentatively estimated at £30,000,000, is not likely to be realised.