ABNORMAL IMPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1931, Page 9

ABNORMAL IMPORTS

BRITISH EMERGENCY BILL

MINISTEK EXPLAINS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 20lh November, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 19lh November.

The Government last night secured a second reading for the Abnormal Importations Customs Duties Bijl by 376 votes to 47.

Replying on the debate, Mr. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, referred lo the requests for the protection of British agriculture made by earlier speakers. ' He said that the agricultural problem, which was extremely complicated, was being treated as a y whole, and was now under the Government's consideration. .

Mr. Runciman said that there was nothing in the Bill which infringed any commercial treaty to which Britain was party. He added: '"We claim the same freedom with regard to our trade and fiscal system as is enjoyed by every other country in the world. It is within the limits of that freedom that we ask for these powers. They will not be abused." Commenting on the measure, which will to-day complete its passage through the House of Commons, "The Times" says that it strictly obeys the mandate given to Parliament by being designed only to keep the decks clear of embarrassments, such as a: further dangerous increase in the adverse balance of trade, until such time as the Government is ready with a more comprehensive scheme for national reconstruction by every method, including tariffs, which may help to put Britain's industry and currency on a permanently stablo foundation.