OPTIMISTIC TRADE OUTLOOK

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 4 November 1933, Page 11

OPTIMISTIC TRADE OUTLOOK

OPBAKING in the House of Comcmons, Mr Runeiman, President of the Board of Trade, said that the capital expenditure of the last thirteen or fourteen years had made very little impression, certainly no permanent impression, on the problem of unemployment. It would be foolish to ignore suCh experience, gained at great cost. Delegates from' other countries at the Economic Conference had stated that until they were assured of something like stability in the foreign exchanges they did not regard it as safe for their countries to embark on any great diminution in prohibition, quotas, or tariffs. If Britain had had its way, progress would certainly have been made, both bilaterally and multilateral]y, in the direction of the reduction of trade barriers.

Britain could not support its present population unless the export trade was fostered by every possible means. If MmilMllllllMllMllMlllHimiimilllllllllliailllMllllMltlSlflMlfr,

British Board Chairman’s Survey

was easy to make a gloomy survey of .industry, but in most of the export trades, with the exception of coal and cotton-, there had been a very distinct improvement during the past twelve months. They wanted to see that improvement accelerated. He would not grudge any money that could be spent which Would lead to an increase in the population on small holdings, plantation, or reclamation of land. Such matters were now being considered on technical grounds by the Government. ■Since January tne number of those employed had increased by 500,000, while 114,000 Was the maximum ever employed on public works schemes. He believed that the improvement which they saw was going to continue. They had turned the corner, and Itoherc was no reasofi why there should not be continuous improvement. In the recess the Government would continue along the lines of policy that had brought these results.”