TRADE UNION CONGRESS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 11

TRADE UNION CONGRESS.

INTER-EMPIRE TRADE. ECONOMIC COMMITTEE'S REPORT. (BStTtSB OFFICIAL WIBELBSS.) (Received September 3rd, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, September 2. Keen interest was aroused at the Trade Union Congress to-day, when the question of developing trade within the Britisli Commonwealth was debated. Mr Ernest Devm introduced to the Congress' the report of its Economic Committee, which suggested that it ivould be quite in the interests of the British people and of the Dominions to press for as full a development as possible of the economic relations between the constituent parts of the British Commonwealth "The maintenance of close relations with the rest of the world does not prevent us from urging the creation of machinery and, if necessary, a formal agreement with the Dominions for the further development of inter-Common-wealth trade, and for the best possible distribution of economic activities within the British Commonwealth.' stated the report "The policy suggested would not involve surrender by any Dominion of nnj advantage or favourable situation which it now enjoys. There is no thought of asking the Dominions to give up anything whatever. iThe economic arrangements made would be to their advantage as much as to ours. That would be the very basis of negotiations. I

"As the first step, it is suggested that regular economic conferences I should be held every three or four | years to consult upon the economic affairs of the Commonwealth " Object of the Report. Mr Bevin dissociated the committee from sympathy with the so-called Beaverbrook-Rothermere campaign. lie thought that the fiscal weapon ought to be used as circumstances might dictate, hut he did not regard it aa offering a complete solution of their problems. The main object of the report >vas to put to the Labour Government, which would bo responsible to the Imperial Conference for economic discussions, a proposal for a definite economic organisation of the British Empire. It would be an investigating organisation. Tf the people of these islands were to consume the agricultural products of the Dominions, then there should be an understanding as to the kind of commodities with which the people would pay for these products.

During the ensuing debate divergent views were expressed, but the motion to refer tlio report bnck was defeated on a vote, by 1,878.000 to 1,440.000. The report was thereupon adopted.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE REPORT. MR BEVIN'S REPLY. (Received September 3rd. 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 2. At the Trades Union Congress, Mr A. V. Hermon, representing the electrical trades, led the opponents to the economic committee's report on trade within the British Commonwealth. Mr Hermon stated that the report was deliberate humbug and was merely advocating one of the chief things which British Capitalism was at present urging. Mr T. E. Naylor oonttnded that the economic development of the Dominions was not going to affect British unemployment. Mr T. Scollen (distributive workers) said that he regarded the report as an illegitimate offspring brought into the world by "Nurse" Bevin. Mr Si Davies (Southwall miners) pointed out that a closed British Empire would immediately ruin the coal industry, which required a foreign market.

Mr Bovin, who presented the report, in reply stated that Free Trade had given Great Britain two millions unemployed and the system was completely jammed What the report contemplated was that all parts of the Empire should recognise thei'r respective opportunities and obligations, tf Great Britain were to use Australian wool, Australia must understand her problems and the British hers. If the British were to use Canadian wheat, Canada must learn that it was impossible to get paid for it with American motor-cars.

Mr C. T. Cramp (railwaymon's secretary) deprecated* the suggestion that a decision should be deferred until after the Imperial Conference, saying that it would be absolutely fatal and a confession of inability to make up their minds. It would leave Labour delegates at the conference without guidance from the great trades union body.