CONSERVATIVES’ POLICY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 December 1924, Page 7

CONSERVATIVES’ POLICY.

:—« debate IN THE commons. AGREEMENT WITH EGYPT. BY CABLE PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT ™ LONDON, Dec, 9 . niover of the Address-in-Reply was Mr 11. G. Ellis (Conservative) and l - sec f nder Dord Balniel. Both emphasised the importance of 'mprovme inter-imperial trade. , Mr Ramsay MhcDoiiald (Leader ol the Labour Party) said that .he first product ol the Government- Mas a -tt-ing s Speech of extraordinary length and very little substance. The Govern, naent had no policy in regard to food pricey and agriculture. He asked how x-he Government Wa s going to sulriiit the case or the Geneva protocol to (he Dominions. Was there going to. be a special Dominions’ conference? If so would the international conference on armaments be postponed? Mr. MacDonald urged that no tune ought to be lost in coming to an r<reement with Egypt. With regard to the future of Anglo-Egyptian relations, any arrangement must be assented t.o by Aptian Parliament. He .isked if ivlr Baldwin was going to ruii Imperial preference without a tax on food. “Are tve going t'o have tinned salmon again?” (Laughter). Mr Baldwin, replying to. the criticisms of Mr Mab Donald and Mi- Lloyd George, said the Government would have been foolish to rhsli tile acceptfu Ce c * Geneva protocol without the fullest irivestigation in con junction with the Dominions. ' 'J a*r?fer<mce, To the Singapore base, Mr Baldwin said that as regards l e ad .hered to his previous statejnent that while he would employ the Safeguarding of Industries Act to safeguard efficient industries, in which a great amount of unemployment was due to unfair competition, lie w-ould not introduce protection during this Parliament, nor use the Safeguarding of Industries Act as a means to introduce it. The debate preceded along general lines, and ivas adjourned till to-mor-row. The House of Lords agreed to the Address-in-Reply.