“A BUSINESS POLICY”

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 57, 1 December 1923, Page 7

“A BUSINESS POLICY”

JMR. BALDWIN’S IDEAL WORE REGULAR EMPLOYMENT; MARKET DEVELOPMENT HOW BRITISH INDUSTRY SUFFERS! The British Premier claims that he, as a business man, Is developing a business policy, “first and last and all the way.” He also says that the Conservatives are striving for more regular employment and systematic development of home markets, , i. By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. (Rec. November 30, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 30. Apart from the continuance of the flying tours of Mr. Lloyd George and I, ord Birkenhead in Northern England, the principal event of the day’s electioneering wag a business address by Mr. Baldwin to business men at Bradford. in which he emphasised the importance of unemployment, and claimed that he, as a business man, was developing .what was. first and last and all the way, a business policy. He knew that when politicians spoke on industry generally they talked “the rot of their lives.” Mr, Baldwin said that he had been at great pains to consult experts in the wool trade, and had found that wo . had! been this year importing wool fabrics at the rate of about- one-third of the importation in the period immediately preceding the war. “Our exports of worsted tissues,” he continued, “are two-thirds of the pre-war rate, and the fall has been mainly in the United States demand, where wool suffered in common with so many industries owing to the Fordney tariff. I am not an expert in wool, but I know, the figures of, unemployment, about which Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Asquith are significantly silent., The Conservatives are striving for more regular .employment and systematic development of home markets. “Recurring periods of _ depression not only eat up the savings of _ the people, but destroy the very springs of thrift. One of the heaviest losses due to unemployment is the temptation to our people to ‘ca canny.’ While chronic bouts' of unemployment persist, the desire to spin cut every job will continue. The mere presence of a largo pool of unemployed, is a constant temptation to employers. Our policy is also to give a substantial lift to Imperial preference by the preference we can offer the Dominions on our tariffs. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ANGUISHING INDUSTRY SLACKNESS IN BRITISH SHIPYARDS London, November 29. Mr. Baldwin, speaking at Glasgow, gaid that owing to the restriction deliberately applied by foreign Powers in their own interests, there was less tonnage building in British shipyards than at any time in the past fourteen years. “Wo cannot be content with passive resistance in the face of such a situation,” ho declared. If ho were returnid to power he intended tp call an early conference of shipbuilders to toy to devise means id keep the great industry going. In further reference to the tendency of foreign countries to discriminate against British shipping in favour of their own. ho said that the matter was so serious that it was brought before the recent Economic Conference, and a method was discussed bv which the unity of the Empire might make itself felt if it became necessary to fight Hitch an attack. —Reuter. THREAT OF INTERNATIONAL TAX WAR (Rec. November 30, 8 p.m.) London, Npvember 30. Tim Shipowners’ Parliamentary QomJmittee. in a circular to all election candidates. states : “Shipping is threatened with an international tax war in which British trade stands to lose, because British tonnage offers the largest target and. British shipping will be hampered bv a multitude of conflicting regulations of different countries. Tn some castes, even the Dominions are levying income tax on shipping, irrespective of its profit and loss. The sound policy is to aim at universal reciprocal exemptou of the earnings of the ships of all flags from foreign and Dominion taxation.”—-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. / WHILE EUROPE RECOVERS (Rec. November 30. 8 p.m.) London, November 30. Lord) Birkenhead, speaking at Aston-nnder-Lvne. said that it would take Europe at least five years to recover. “Are von going to do nothing for the unemployed in that period?” ho asked. “Moreover, if you try to compete with Germany’s pound a week wages to skilled men. you will not have a million unemployed, but five million.” «—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LABOUR’S SOLUTION (Itec. November 30, 8 p.m.) London, November 30. Mr. J. H. Thomas, general secretary zf the National Union of Railwaymen, sneaking at Derbv. also dealt with unemployment. Hi) said that neither free trade nor protection was the solution of unemplovm/'nt. The Labour Partv was determined that instead of pouring out money in humiliating doles, neoe.ssarv work shmfld be undertaken. 'Thorn were half a dozen railways which could ho electrified’ immediately, and it. was also possible to promote schemes of afforestation and reclamation. —. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ASHMEAD BARTLETT A CANDIDATE London, November 29. Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, the war correspondent, is standing for North

Hammersmith as a Conservative. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. IMPERIAL ASPECT MARKET FOR DOMINIONS’ PRODUCE London, November 29. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in a speech In London, referring to the Imperial aspect of Mr. Baldwin’s policy, agreed that it was impossible to get the full effect of Imperial developments unless the market of the British Isles was secured for the Dominions. He believed that it would some day be worth while pursuing investigations into that asl>ect of the matter in order to ascertain whether it would be possible to obtain from tho Dominions a sufficient quid pro quo to justify giving them security for their at ® cultural produce. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. LLOYD GEORGE’S CAMPAIGN “A MISCHIEVOUS INSTRUMENT” (Rec. November 30, 8 p.m.) London, November 30. Air. Llovd George spoke yesterday at four groat open-air meetings. Ho also gave three shorter addresses and concluded with a meeting at.Llududno. The most remarkable gathering was at Rochdale market square, where ho had 20.000 listeners, including thousands of mill girls in shawls and clogs. The voeaker’s voice was spread over the square bv means of amplifiers. . There was an amusing episode. While developing into a protectionist argument. Mr. Llovd George turned to a friend and. whispered: “Was Cobden a Lancashire man?” He, however, forgot the amplifier, and the aside was heard all over the square. There was a great roar of laughter, and cries of, “A T ou don’t know who Cobden was.” “Ah.” retained Mr. Llovd George, “von heard that. It was this mischievous instrument. It is iust like protection.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TAX ON FOREIGN APPLES* WILL CAUSE INCREASE IN PRICE (Rec. November 30, 8 p.m.) London. November 30. The “Dailv Chronicle” states that 3(10 wholesale fruit buyers at Liverpool protested to the Government against the tax of ss. per cwt. on foreign apples. and state that it is impossible for Dominion and Home producers to supply the demand for another ten years. The duty, they say. will curtail American supplies and cause an increase'in price.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.