IRON AND STEEL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 307, 11 December 1931, Page 5

IRON AND STEEL

NEED FOR PROTECTION DEBATE IN COMMONS. STATEMENT BY MR. AMERY. tßritish Official Wireless.) (Received 11, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, Dec. 10. A strong demand lor the protection of the iron and steel industries by a protective tariff was advanced by the Rt. Hon. lj M. Amery during the debate in the House of Commons on the Labour censure '.notion. Mr. Walter Runcimau, replying, said that time must be allowed for a careful survey -of the whole complex problem. Hasty or ill-considered action might do irreparable damage to dejiqndent industries. The same medicine could not be applied to all these branches of manufacture As against 180,006 engaged in the production of iron and steel there were 1,800,000 employed in dependent industries. He cautioned advocates of the tariff against exaggeration. The Home market had been well preserved for Home industry without any protection and the fa'll in -he production of iron and steel in Britain had not been so great as the tall iu the United States and Germany Open as his mind was, it was closed against taking any risk which precipitate action would involve. In a matter spread over such a wide area, there should be no attempt to rush the decision. Mr. Runcinian concluded his speech on a hopeful note. He refused to accept the view that the outlook was as. black as some of the advocates of tariffs represented it to be. On the broader issue he pointed out that it was a great source of strength to Britain that much of her essential foodstuffs came from countries that were on a sterling basis. The character of British business also, was of the highest. Let them not assume that things were never going to get better. By approaching the problems with assiduity and thought and by taking a complete, impartial survey of all their various aspects, they could look forward with some hope to a solution of these problems before long. To-morrow, after the debate on the adjournment, the House will rise for the Xmas recess and reassemble on February 2. The Prime Minister announced this afternoon, however, that the adjournment motion would give power to the Speaker to call the House together earlier if public interests required it. LABOUR MOTION DEFEATED. (Received 11, 2.30 p.m.) London, Dec. 10. In the House of Commons, the Labour censure motion was defeated by 439 votes to 44.