OPTIMISM IN BRITAIN

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 30 April 1934, Page 7

OPTIMISM IN BRITAIN

LATE EDITION

BOARD OF TRADE PRESIDENT PROGRESS MADE BY CABINET CREDIT PAH ACHIEVEMENTS LENGTHY LIST QUOTED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) Received 2.50 p.m. to-day. , RUGBY, April 28. Mr Walter Runciman, .President ot' the Board of Trade, expressed optimistic views to-day on the national recovery. In a speech ait Cardiff ho. claimed for the National Government a measure of credit for 17 achievements. These were balancing the! Budget, the remission of income tax, the repayment of millions in the unemployment insurance fund, the je-

storatiqn of economy cuts to unemployed, a saving of about £‘40,000,000 jLiri annual interest charges by conver- ' jsion, helping industrial organisation and local authorities by cheapening money (which now was aygilable at a lower rate than for generations), tpe employment of neatly 2000 more people: trade agreements lowering tariff in foreign markets (nine being signed ami seven more being negotiated), the, steady rise in industrial securities and the reappearance of dividends., improvement in the iron and steel trade a slight improvement in the coal trade (mainly in the north), passing the Act; stimulating the production of motor: spirit from coal .and other indigen oris products, legislation helping agriculture and bold experiments in organised marketing, and the passing of the greatest town and country planning Act in history. More was done toward re-housing than »nv previous Government had achieved. Opening the greatest orusade against the slump ever attempted in any -covmj try, a great piece of /c<oinstructive social reform, namely the TJnem-ploy-' ment Insurance Bill, was about to be, made law. -Referring to shipping, he said that if the Government was .go-! inp- to .assist, its help should be not onlv for shipowners, but for officers and crews..