LABOUR’S TRADE POLICY

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 November 1930, Page 5

LABOUR’S TRADE POLICY

CENSURE MOTION DEFEATED LACK OF VISION ALLEGED VALUE' OF TARIFF PREFERENCES, (Umied Brest. Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) LONDON, Nov. 27. Submitting an unsuccessful motion of censure on the Government for not having formulated effective 'proposals lor Empire trade at the Imperial Conference, Mr. Stanley Baldwin in the House of Commons to-day said that the i mperial Conference had offered a great 1 -opportunity, and the speeches of the Seeeretary for. Dominion Affairs had raised high hopes, but the offer of Mr. R. B. Bennett, Canadian Prime Minister, had been side-tracked and the Government had nothing definite to submit regarding alternatives to tariff preferences. Mr. J. IT. Thomas, replying, said if aii'’ ’proposals had been made that would help British trade and give euioyinent it would have been the Government’s duty to accept them, but the Givernment had been asked to put a tax on foodstuffs and in return Canada was prepared to increase preferences but not to remove any tax. Mr. Thomas expressed deep appreciation of the spirit in which preferences were given bv the Dominions, h t if preferences were reduced to he bargains he was certain they would have disastrous results.

The Government hearily affirmed the principle that Imperial preference was ~reat value Mr. Thomas said, but tariff preferences were not. The only possible Imperial preferences remain-m-T were the existing tariff preferences. The Government had met legitimate doubts by giving isome guarantee of their continuity without bargaining of any kind. NEW SECURITY FOR EMPIRE. Reviewing other features of the conference’s work Mr. Thomas said it had enlarged the present scope of the Economic Committee- andi endeavoured to bring about a new security for the Einpi re though unfortunately the latter proposal had failed. He believed that the policy would mature at some future date. The conference had also given dies© consideration to the quota scheme, while the bulk purchase, and import boards which were examined were being further explored in a desire to achieve something practical. Mr. Thomas repudiated the suggestion that the Dominions were disappointed with the results of the conference, at which they had consolidated the existing 'position and the way for consideration of all economic problems which would help the trade of the Empire. Protest was made when Mr. Thomas referred to the offer made by Canada as “humbug.” He said the Government was being censured for not doing what Mr. Baldwin himself could not have done if he had been in office without breaking his pledges against food taxes made at last election. Sir. H. Samuel (Liberal) said Empire trade had greatly developed in the past generation. During last year the Eim"i re bought British goods worth £324.000.000 but foreigners bought £405,000"000. Germany bought more than Canada, Holland more than New Zealand' South America more than Aush—rlia. while France equaled South Africa’s purchases. The Liberals thought the Government commendable rather than censurable for the course adopted at the Imperial Conference.“T do not flatter myself,” said Mr. Phil in Snowden, “that my own inter- 1 ventions at the Imperial Conference decided its issues. The attitude of the Government regarding all problems was that of a. united Government which does not change with every change of the moon. The opportunity we are supposed to have missed was an oppprtun■tv of taxing the food of the 'people and endangering a large part of our foreign trade..”

THAT WORD “HUMBUG.”

Referring, to Mr. Thomas’ use of the word “humbug,” in regard to Mr. Bonnet's i>roposals, Mr. Snowden said had looked up the meaning of the word in Murray’s dictionary and found “This word is much in vogue with wple of taste and fashion.” (Laughter) . Mr. Snowden said during the fortnight before he 'left Canada Mr. Bennett was engaged in preparations for .. e conference. He was also engaged in arranging for large additions to the duties on British imports. And a certain Australian Minister recently in London, though not a delegate to the conference, had said: “Our purpose is ring your factories to Australia.” (More laughter). Mr. Snowden added that the Dominions wanted all the sacrifice to be made or Britain. •

The censure motion was defeated by 299 votes to 234. During the division a Labour member walked across the floor and slapped Lord Win ter ton across the face with an order paper. Lord \Y i nterton took no notice, and Mr. Speaker said lie did not see the incident. Mr. C. J. Simmons, a Labourite, later rose and admitted his offence and expressed his sincere apology amid cheers from all parts of the House. “The Times” describes the debate as disappointing and unilluminating. “Ft was hoped the Gov eminent spokesmen would state more fidly what the Imperial Conference had done and clear • oints the summary left obscure. It was hoped there would be some account of tbe Government’s plans to ensure that Qttawa will be more fruitful than London.”