LLOYD GEORGE

Grey River Argus, 17 February 1933, Page 4

LLOYD GEORGE

WARNS GOVERNMENT The Outlook Grave (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). (Re.-eivcd February 16 at 5.5 P-m.) LONDON, February 15. In the House of Commons, an unemployment debate that was notable tor the intervention of Mr Lloyd George, was initiated my a back-bench Conservative motion demanding the encouragement of the Municipalities to undertake essential revenue producing works. Mr Hilton Young, in accepting the motion, said the Government was eager to assist municipalities to obtain leans for remunerative works, but rhe system of subsidies for relief works had already proved futile in reducing the unemp’oyment. The Labour Government s- ent two hundred millions on this orm of remedy, but unemployment had inn eased by a million and a half. Mr Lloyd George’s attack covered almost the whole field of the Government’s policy. He said the Government threw away fifty millions in trying to keep the sovereign at an artificial value. In seeking to reduce the adverse trade ba’ancc they found that the reduction of imports meant the reduction of exports. The search for a debt, settlement had only produced a tentative agreement at Lausanne, that was made without the consent of he creditor nation, the United States. The importance of the internation:;! debts he said, was being exaggerated. It was the tariff barriers that were squeezing the life out of international trade. What wns the Government going to propose to the International Conference? It could not demand a reduction in the foreign countries’ tariffs unless it was willing to reduce its own tariffs. Everybody was going to that conference seeking for concessions. Mr L’oyd George said that there might be a catastrophe in America, In Germany, or elsewhere! before the Conference ended, which would produce a panic. Had the Government any clear idea of what they were going to propose at the World Conference, or what they were going to do for the unemployed, if it produced no agreement ?