SAFEGUARDING

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 9

SAFEGUARDING

OF BRITISH INDUSTRIES GOVERNMENT’S POLICY STATEMENT BY MR. BALDWIN (Australian Press Assn.—United Service) (Rec. August 3, 7.35 p.m.) London, August 2. In the House'of Commons, Mr. A. V. Alexander (Lab.J asked whether Mr. Churchill’s or Sir William JoynsonHicks’s recent references, to the safeguarding of industries represented the policy of the Government. Mr. Baldwin replied: “Mr. Churchill's speech appears to state less tersely but more eloquently the policy I laid down at the election in 1924. In Sir William Joynson-Hicks's speech I am unable to find any definition of policy, but a number of pertinent questions which he said truthfully are worthy of consideration. What struck me iu the speeches was not diversity of testimony, but a many-sidedness truth.” (Loud laughter.)

Mr. J. R. Clynes (Lab.) : Will the Prime Minister say which represents the policy of the Government? Mr. Baldwin : I have already answered plainly. Mr. Churchill’s speech exactly describes the Government’s policy as laid down at the general election. In the Home Secretary's speech I have failed to discover any trace of policy at all.

' Mr. Baldwin, replying to Sir Fredert ick Hall, said the Government, as stated in December, 1925, did not think * a Royal Commission to inquire into for--3 eign competition in the iron and steel 3 trades would serve a useful purpose. ’ He claimed that the Government was ' carrying out its Undertaking completely ' to assist industry by the rate relief ’ scheme and consequent reduction of J rail freight.