BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 18623, 2 May 1924, Page 7

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

THE BUDGET DEBATE.

SIR R. HORNE’S ATTACK.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, April 3Q, In the debate on Hi© Budget Sir. Robert Homo said it was madness to disregard tho dominions 1 proposal of preference. ■ If the Government flouted the Imperial Conference’s decisions, it would he imporeibiei to hold the Empire together. Sir Robert Horn© appealed to Mr MacDonald to bring hack confidence to business men. The repeal of the M’Kenna duties would have a disastrous effect on the motor car industry. From a partisan point of view nothing, would please him better, but he was aghast at the hardship and misery which tho Government was prepared to ■bring upon tho working people of Britain, who would l never forgive those who had failed them in this grhat matter. He appealed to tho House to do nothing to weaken 'the loyalty pf their brethren overseas by jeopardising Britain’s connection with tlie dominions. The Government had made great (professions regarding the relief of unemployment; but it had done nothing. Were not the colonial xparkets worth considering? Tho Government was quite ready to (negotiate a trading agreement with Russia, yet Now Zealand took as large a quantity of manufactured goods before Die war as the whole teeming population of Russia. Sir Robert Horae said that the abolition of the M’Kenna duties was the price the Government was paying for Liberal support, _ Bo urged the Government to consider its effect on employment. (Received May 2, at 9.10 a.m.) Speaking in regard to preferences, Sir Robert Horne said that it had been hoped that as a result of the war, a new and enlarged view of the Empire would be taken, but the dead hand of Oobden parently gripped some members. Sir Robert Homo appealed bo the Government to realise what Britain owed to the Empire in tho way of trade. Out of £558,000,000 worth of manufactured goods exported in 1922 the countries within the Empire took £251,000,000, being 44.2 per cent. A sparsely-populated country like Australia bought more British goods than the 110.000. people in the United States, the 65,000,000 in Germany, and the 40.000. in France. Was not that market worth considering ?—Sydney * Sun ’ Cable. Mr J. H. Thomas (Colonial Secretary) refuted the idea thaifc the Conservatives wore the only party who wore jealous of the position of the Empire. Tho ment deplored the difficulty which bad arisen, but it visas not responsible. The exPrime Minister unquestionably was misled, and the House toould apply itself to avoiding that mistake. Progress was reported, and .fib© debate was adjourned.—Reuter. labor amendments. LONDON, April 30. In the House of Commons three Laborites have tabled amendments to toe Budget, urging the continuation of toe M’Kenna duties until 1925.—Reuter. EFFECT ON BUSINESS. GOOD IMPRESSION CREATED, LONDON. April 30. The Budget has caused much Interest in the city, where toe tension has been greatly relieved. It was very favorably received on too Stock Exchange. The markets all round are good. Tea shares are active. Some of the high-priced shares are_ £1 dearer, and some of the are 5s dearer. The industrial section responded well to toe repeal of tho tax. Tho produce markets are active. .Sugar futures advanced in anticipation of a great improvement in the demand on the reduction of the duty, which-comes into operation to-day. Refiners will reduce homo products L>y 14s—equivalent to the tax.— Reuter. DISAPPOINTMENT IN CANADA. AMERICA BENFiFITS. OTTAWA, April 30. The Canadian Government, alarmed by Mr Snowden’s taxation proposals, announces that the Labor Government's failure to renew toe iM’Kenna trade preference arrangements would severely injure Canada’s export trade. Tho announcement declares that the Canadian motor manufacturers enjoyed in the British market a preference to .top extent off 35y per cent, over their American rivals. The latter were so handicapped that they were compelled toestablish branch factories in the dominion; consequently during the post few years tho exports of automobiles and motor 'trucks to Britain had) reached an unprecedented volume. Tho officials point out that the new proposals - abolishing the M’Kenna duties will place the United States motor manufacturers on toe same footing as those of Canada, thus not only sharpening the competition, bnt probably resulting in the withdrawal of American capital from Canada. —A. and N.Z. Cable. ARMAMENTS LIMITATION SUGGESTIONS. LONDON, May 1. (Received May 2, at 10.15 a.m.) In the House of Commons, Mr John Harris (Liberal) called attention to toe American Bill authorising the construction of eight new cruisers, each of 10,000 tons. He suggested that the Government should approach the United States in regard to the possibility of another Naval Conference.

Mr MacDonald, in reply, referred to a statement by Mr Coolidge on April 22, that it appeared impracticable at present to attempt any further limitation of armaments. Mr MacDonald said he was glad to find that Mr Coolidge agreed with the attitude the Labor Government had- always taken up—viz., that before discussing limitation of armaments we must first remove some of the difficulties of the political situation in Europe.—Router.

LIBERALS PLEASED WITH BUDGET.

SUPPORT INDICATED

LONDON. May I (Received "May 2, at 10.30 a.m.)

The Budget has changed the whole outlook'on the Liberal-Labor relations) consequently a meeting of the Liberal Party, presided over by Mr Asquith, and which had been expected to yield a declaration of war against Labor,, resulted in a .general agreement to support the Budget. Some disappointment was expressed at tho inadequate provision for social reforms, but Mr Asquith stated that the Freetrade Budget vindicated the action of the Liberals in ejecting the Conserva-tives.—-Reuter.