BRITISH TRADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 69, 20 February 1932, Page 7

BRITISH TRADE

IMPORT DUTIES BILL. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. CHANCELLOR’S STATEMENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received February 20, 11.0 a.m. RUGBY, Feb. 19. During the debate in the House of Commons on tho Import Duties Bill the clause establishing the Advisory Committee,. which will be empowered to recommend the imposition of duties additional to the general ten per cent, ad valorem duty, was passed. Mr Neville Chamberlain, the Chancellor, said that the fact that the members were appointed for three years gave them the necessary independence. It was essential to secure tho services of persons with the right personal qualities. Although a civil servant might properly be a member, it would not be desirable that he should be chairman, because that might give rise to the'idea in the minds of the .public that it was a Government department, subject to the influence and instructions of a Minister.

It would be inappropriate to appoint as chairman a member who had been long associated in an active capacity in the conduct of the manufacturing or industrial business, or been a representative of a trade union, for the committee must preserve an attitude, of impartiality. Nor did they want as chairman a distinguished economist. They wanted a man who had a practical working knowledge of business, although not himself connected with manufacturing or distributive trades, and one who would command the public confidence. In the committee stages of the Imports Duties Bill, Major Lloyd George moved an amendment providing that the imposition of the 10 per cent, duty should be the subject of inquiry and report. The amendment was defeated by 293 votes to 61. Sir Stafford Cripps (Labour), m moving that the duties should operate on November 15 instead of March 1, said that Britain ought not to be bound before the Ottawa Conference The amendment was defeated without a division.