REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 8

REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT

ECONOMIC POSITION AT HOME VIEWS OF CAPTAIN BRISCOE. M.P. That Great Britain has shown a tremendous improvement in her position since the collapse in 1931, was stressed by Captain R. G. Briscoe, M.P. for Cambridgeshire, in a short address before members of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce this morning. Captain Briscoe is on a business visit to Dunedin, and the opportunity was taken for him to meet the members of the chamber at morning tea iu the Savoy lounge. The president (Mr W. li. Brent) introduced the visitor. Captain Briscoo spoke of the position in England to-day, particularly in regard to the burning question of the restrictions on dairy produce. There was never a time before iu the history of Great Britain when there was greater reason to be proud of her than there was to-day; firstly, because there was no better system of government than the present democratic one; and secondly, because during the times of depression England showed unmistakable signs of stability, which was responsible for saving the world economically. In 1931 Great Britain was on the point of bankruptcy, and the position became worse and worse until the National Government was formed. Then in a very short time matters began to improve. Thanks were due to the British Cabinet for the wonderful improvement shown all over the country, with the exception of Lancashire and the shipping trade. There was every prospect of a further improvement. some three-quarters of a million men had been put back to work when tariffs were introduced. His personal opinion was that the world was going mad. In the old days the solution of the problem was to be found iu the cheapness of goods, hut the reverse had since been resorted to. He hated any form of restriction, and he urged the chamber to fight against it. When the Ottawa agreement ended in 1935 Great Britain would reserve for herself the right to consult with the dominions in the matter of any restrictions she might think fit to impose on the importation to the Old Country of dairy produce. Denmark’s productions that found their way to Great Britain were restricted, hut the British dominions could send Home as much as they liked. New Zealand and Australia had now to come to some agreement whether to place some restriction on their or to wait until the termination of the Ottawa agreement, and then discover that Great Britain was forced to cut down her imports of products from the dominions. It was a question for the Governments of New Zealand and Australia to settle. There would then be some hope of arranging an increase of prices at Home. Captain Briscoe answered a few questions, and a vote of thanks was proposed by the vice-president (Mr C. B. Bamnvclough), this being earned by acclamation.