IN THE COMMONS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 273, 2 November 1932, Page 8

IN THE COMMONS

OTTAWA AGREEMENTS REJECTION OF AMENDMENTS. FREE STATE’S POSITION. London, October 31. Major Attlee moved m the House of Commons to apply the Ottawa agreements to the Irish Free State during the present dispute and the operation of Britain’s special duties on Irish products. If-a settlement were reached the Free State would be left to be treated as a foreign country or as a dominion without special arrangements.

Mr Thomas said the amendment proposed to give a premium to Dominions seeking to repudiate obligations. It was known before Ottawa that the free entry of Dominion products woukl cease on November 15 if an agreement were not made. Having failed to reach an agreement with the Free State, free entry of her goods must cease. Did the Opposition really believe that the workers and trade unionists of the country, accustomed to collective bargaining approved of giving special privileges to those who repudiated obligations ? The Government would welcome the earliest opportunity for making a trade agreement with the Free State, but it must be an agreement within the commonwealth of nations. The Free State could not expect to remain within the commonwealth for economic and outside for political considerations. The amendment was defeated by 255 to 32 votes In committee on the Ottawa Agreements Bill Mr. Rhys Davies moved to exempt raw fruit from the duty as Home orchardists would not benefit. This was negatived by 270 votes to 53. Mr. Kingsley Griffiths moved to delete all duties if Empire producers were unable or unwilling to offer commodities to Britain at world prices in sufficient quantities. Major Hore Belisha said that though the proviso in this direction differed in the cases of Canada and Australia the Commonwealth Government agreed that the requirement as to quantities must apply to Australia. The amendment was negatived by 228 votes to 50. Four Clauses carried. Clause one was carried by 232 to 52. On clause two, which provides that Dominions products’ be free from import duties, Sir Samuel Cripps said that there was a proviso giving the Treasury power to impose a duty in oertain circumstances. He moved an amendment to prevent this. Major Hore Belisha said that the intention of the Government was to protect first the Home producer and secondly the Dominions producer. If it were found after experience of these agreements (fiat the Home producer required a modicum of protection, even against the Dominions in respect of poultry and other agricultural products we would not be deprived of the opportunity of obtaining it. That was why the clause was so framed..The amendment was defeated bv 239 to 51. Clauses two, three and four were added to the bill and the debate was adjourned. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. The Rt. Hon. J. H. Thomas informed Mr. Lambert that he had received no communication from Australia or the Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce suggesting revision of the Ottawa meat quota. Mr. Burgin asked whether the practice of dying foreign butter to give it the characteristic yellow colour of that of Australian and New Zealand could not be prohibited, as it was prejudicial to Empire butters. The Minister said that the dying of butter with, annatto was a common practice in Britain and elsewhere. He had received no representation that it was prejudicial to Empire butters. There was no power to prohibit the use of annatto. The Merchandise Marks Act provided that imported butter must be marked with the country of origin. Replying to questions, Sir John Simon said that the British Government so far had no grounds for doubting that the open door would be effectively maintained in Manchuria in accordance with the assurances given by both the Japanese Government and the Manchurian authorities.

Major Colville said that the Department of Overseas Trade export credits committee was not at present prepared to recommend granting guarantees covered by credits for more than 18 months in respect to exports to Russia. Captain Eden, asked whether there had been or would be any trade reciprocity discussion between representatives of the Argentine Government and of Great Britain regarding such of tho Ottawa Conference proposals as referred to British imports of wheat and meat, replied that an exchange of views was already taking place.