BRITISH TRADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 7, 8 December 1931, Page 2

BRITISH TRADE

3.45 P.M. EDITION

TARIFF QUESTION. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. Received Deoenjber 8,2 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. “There is a difference between the tariff as a necessity, dealing with an emergency, and its imposition as a deliberate settled change of policy,” said Earl Grey at the Eighty Club dinner.” "If any*'section of the Conservatives succeeds in pressing that change it will destroy, the Government’s national character.” PAYMENT FOR EXPORTS. The Hull Chamber of Commerce has decided to urge the Government to recognise the need for some reciprocal arrangement in view of the difficulties of manufacturers in obtaining payment for exports owing to fifteen foreign Governments restricting export currencies. It was pointed out that a Bradford firm which exported cloth to Hungary was unable to obtain payment, although the money had been deposited in their name by an Hungarian bank, the Government refusing to permit it to be taken over, even rejecting an offer to take Hungarian products in lieu of currency. WHEAT QUOTA. Sir John Gilmour, Minister of Agriculture, in the House of Commons, told questioners that he could not make a further statement on the wheat quota question pending negotiations between all the interests concerned. He would not be able to make a statement before the recess. Mr Cruickshank; Will you consider introducing a resolution approving of the quota principle, in order to facilitate the negotiations? There was no answer. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, in answer to a question by Mr J. H. Thomas, said that he would make a statement oil the application of the quota to Canadian and Australian wheat before the recess.

FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT. Received December 8, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. In answer to a question in the House of Commons, Major W. E. Elliot, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said that he did not share the view that import duties and Empire preference need await the evolution of a monetary policy based on the gold standard.