FREE TRADE OR PROTECTION?

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1928, Page 7

FREE TRADE OR PROTECTION?

HOME CONSERVATIVES’ POLICY

“SAFEGUARDING” INDUSTRIES

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn—Copyright.)

LONDON, Sept. 27

That the safeguarding of industry preoccupies the minds of the delegates to the Conservative Party’s conference at Yarmouth was evident the moment that the proceedings opened. There are six hundred delegates, including two hundred women. The motion paper contains thirteen references to the safeguarding of industries. The Chairman, Colonel John Gretton, said this subject could be dismissed on a single motion. The Conference proceeded to the question of Party organisation, in view of the general election, but tariffs cropped up again.

General Sir Page Croft moved the principal resolution reaffirming the resolutions of the three previous conferences in favour of the widest possible extension safeguarding of industries consistent with Mr. Baldwin’s election pledges. The motion regretted the unemployment in the large areas and stated that the earliest possible steps should be taken to safeguard additional industries. The mover said: “The storm cannot be weathered by safeguarding, but we want the pace quickened without breaking the Premier’s pledges. He said that safeguarding had so far been triuinphantly vindicated. It was estimated that a hundred thousand British workers had been reemployed without a single rise in price. Fifteen foreign industries had come inside the country to avoid paying the duties. He added: “I believe that the safeguarding of iron and steel would employ an additional hundred and thirty thousand inside five months. We should send the Premier a message to go full steam ahead.”

Mr. Joseph Hall, M.P., seconded the resolution. He said: “The British, as a nation, stand isolated on free trade — the impotent fools of the fiscal world.”

Mr. Vivian Roberts, on behalf of the shipbuilding town of Jarrow, said that Britain was the only mad country in the world. It threw open its markets to every Tom, Dick and Harry. Mr. Storny Deans then moved a most important amendment, urging the immediate safeguarding of the iron and steel industries.

The amendment was carried by an overwhelming majority. The resolution was also carried.

ELECTION PREPARATIONS

LONDON, Sept. 28.

Mr. Baldwin, -in his speech at Yarrmouth, which is regarded as the first shot in the election campaign, plainly indicated that either June or July next would be the month chosen for the greatest political battle of modern times. The Premier also disclosed that the' issue will be the challenge of Socialism to Constitutionalism and individualism.

The three Parties are now feverishly engaged in preparing for the election. Labour declares that it is putting forward a greater number of candidates, and is raising a fighting fund of one hundred thousand sterling. The Liberals promise five hundred candidates.

Mr. Baldwin’s audience cheered him to the echo when he declared that he had never known the Conservative Party to be in better-spirits and finer fighting fettle than now. It remains to be seen whether the Premier’s pronouncement on the safeguarding of industries will satisfy the supporters who previously had demanded the immediate safeguarding of the iron and steel industry. The Conservative papers do not dwell on the point. The Daily Chronicle sees the signs of a Tory rebellion. It stresses that the rank and file have shown unmistakably that they demand a policy of protection and the destruction of free Trade. It adds that Mr. Baldwin blandly bids them to be content to move slowly. The Daily News warns the Liberals that Mr. Baldwin’s cautious forward movement presents the most damaging onslaught with which free trade has ever been faced, for the enemy may be within the gates before the majority of the defenders are alive to the fact that the attack is being made.