MERELY WORDS

Evening Star, Issue 20853, 24 July 1931, Page 3

MERELY WORDS

THE BULK PURCHASE IDEAL BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE [lAiom Oon Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 23. A feature of Labour criticism of the Prime Minister during tho Imperial Conference debate was tho expression of disappointment that Mr Forbes brought back no practical achievement in that direction. The Prime Minister, in the course of a vigorous reply, reminded Labour critics that prior to his departure for the conference he made, a complete statement regarding the attitude he would take up. This appeared to meet with tho approval of tho House, but apparently the Labour members were not listening. Ho had made ft clear that he could not agree to a policy "of Empire Frcctradc. He recognised it was not for him to dictate to the English people in regard to their politics, but one of tho questions of Empire the Prime Minister went Home to discuss was Empire preference. In his public addresses he showed how New Zealand’s policy was designed to give every assistance to British trade. Certain reports on his attitude were cabled to New Zealand, and apparently, while distance was supposed to lend enchantment to the view, it also caused distortion. It was no use going Home to utter a few platitudes, so when ho was asked what ho would do to encourage Empire trade he called attention to New Zealand’s methods. NO TARIFFS—BUT SOME ALTERNATIVES. Tho British Government, continued Mr Forbes, decided to rule out tariffs, but considered that there were other avenues which could bo explored, such as tho quota system, import boards, and bulk purchase. Committees werc < appointed to consider these questions. They found in regard to tho quota system that tho British Government could do nothing. There was no definite proposition put before the conference in regard to bulk purchase, Tho talk was all in the air. Mr Holland: What practical ideas did the Prime Minister put forward? Mr Forbes: 1 wanted to see before I committed this country to anything what were tho practical details. I got nothing except that the British Government had an open mind on tho subject. The Premier, continuing, said tho British Labour Party came into power with a plank in its platform that bulk ■purchase meant buying foodstuffs m tho cheapest market. This was made clear by Mr Philip Snowden, who said that the foundation of bulk purchase was buying wholesale in the cheapest market, it was not a question of Imperial trade at all, but how to bring down the price of food. That was tho pledge on which tho Labour Government went into power, but it never attempted to put it into operation, and when tho Imperial Conference came to examine it they found not one single definite suggestion in regard to carrying it out. “ i am told I was not able to bring something homo to our people. There was not a definite suggestion, but words, words the whole time.” Mr Fraser (Wellington Centra!): Not e\;en from tho Prime Minister? Mr 'Forbes: No; neither the Prime Minister. Mr Philip Snowden, or Sir William Graham could say anything except that they had an open mind. All wo had was airy nothings; yet I am accused of not bringing back anything for our farmers. There was not one single practical suggestion in regard tq bulk purchase. A committee set up to deal with it was considerably disappointed, and some of them expressed themselves fairly strongly at being asked to sit for so long to find alter all that it was nothing but futility.