EMPIRE POLICY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 70, 6 March 1930, Page 5

EMPIRE POLICY

MR. BALDWIN’S SPEECH

LONDON PRESS COMMENTS.

WAY CLEARED FOR UNITY.

[British Official Wireless.]

(Received 6, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, March 5. Commenting on the Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin’s speech, the “Daily Mail’’ says: “This undertaking of yesterday is in complete harmony with the main plan disclosed in the earlier speech and is at any time compatible with the fiscal and Empire programme with which the Unionist Party has armed itself for the next election ”

The “Daily Express,’’ Lord Beaverbrook’s newspaper, regards Mr. Baldwin’s speech as the climax of the first phase of its campaign, but declares that the task of its crusaders is none the less different because dearly defined. “We must keep the ideal of Empire economic unity far above party politics.’’ The “Daily Herald’’ heads its leading article, “The Return of the Prodigal,’’ and regards the speech as the withdrawal by Mr. Baldwin of bis pledge against the food taxes. The ‘Manchester Guardian” thinks it unlikely that Mr. Baldwin’s announcement of the referendum will avoid arousing prejudice against the food taxes at the general election. Other Liberal newspapers criticise the referendum, which introduces an instrument hitherto unknown in the British constitution.

The Conservative journals welcome the speech as clearing the way for the restoration of unity within the party.

LABOUR AMENDMENT TO CON SERVATIVE CENSURE MOTION. (United Press Association--B.v Cable— Copyright.! (Received 6, 1.10 p.m.) London, March 5.

In the House of Commons the Labour party tabled an amendment on the Conservative censure motion. The amendment deplores, the trade depression and increased unemployment due to the previous Government’s policy and welcomes the Government’s measures to assist trade and restore prosperity and expresses confidence that the necessary action will be undertaken rapidly and vigorously'. It expresses the opinion that a fiscal policy should he framed in the interests of the whole of the people and not for the sectional advantage of particular groups of manufacturers.

See page 6 for earlier cables.