BALDWIN OUTLINES POLICY OF SOBRIETY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6889, 20 April 1929, Page 9

BALDWIN OUTLINES POLICY OF SOBRIETY

Fails to Rouse Enthusiasm CONSERVATIVE MARKET SLUMPS AFTER SPEECH

Caited Press Association—-By Elecfcris Teiograph—Copyright. LONDON, April 18. Mr. Baldwin, addressing 2000 Conservative leaders and organisers at the Drury Lane theatre, outlined the Party’s electoral programme. The enthe Cabinet was on the platform. Mr. Baldwin aroused general laughter by beginning: “Mr. Lloyd George has said that the Liberal is the, party of promises. I accept that; lam no competitor; we are performers.” i Mr. Baldwin went 'on to emphasise the seriousness of the industrial sitm ation. The general strike had proved the crisis, but since 1926 masters and men had been getting together. The Conservative efforts were directed at getting the men permanent employment. The Government had decided definitely against a scheme which would lead to large borrowings, believing that by borrowing they would, run the risk of causing an inflation of the market, while the cost of living would rise. The Government was tiying by arrangement with the Dominion governments to make it easier for men and women to go to the Dominions overseas and the colonies. (Cheers). It was now possible for practically all the boys in the depressed areas,, if their parents were willing, to be transferred to districts where there was employment. The Government was appointing a Commission to advise on tho development of colonial territories. In returning to the problem of unemployment, Mr. Baldwin pointed out that the reorganisation was going on v iu all industries with the result that Britain was recovering her competitive power. As progress was maintained unemployment would continue to fall. A factor of great assistance in tho next five years would bo that owing to the fall of the birth rate during the war there would be several hundred thousand fewer entrants into industry than was customary. Mr. Baldwin continued: “This country has far to go in the direction of being humanised.” He repeated his pledge not to introduce Protection and not to impose any taxes on food and outlined a policy of further alum clearing and educational reforms. “Ours,” he said, in conclusion, “is a policy of sobriety. We promise nothing which we cannot perform.”

fact that Mr. Baldwin’s programme does not contain any outstanding issue likely to focus the attention of the country. Labour certainly intends to capitalise the debts issue. Mr. Phillip Snowden, in a lobby interview, said throughout the campaign he would continue to criticise the Balfour Note. He had received a large number of letters, including some from Conservatives, approving his policy. Ho was convinced the government had made Labour the rift of an excellent election card. ° It is apparent the debts question will be a vital appeal.' Many, rightly or wrongly, are under the impression that much of tho country’s. depression is due directly to that factor.

What Conservative Platform Proposes “ONLY THIS, AND NOTHING MORE.” British Official Wireless. RUGBY, April 18.‘ In the course of his policy speech at tho Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Mr. Baldwin said: .“We are 5 performers and, while others are searching foi policies to meet an emergency which is not likely to arise, we, on our part, have been immersed in a. great struggle for years, and by a continuance of t e policy in which we are engaged we shall continue the process that is now going on—that of conquering unemployment. .... “In the new atmosphere which has existed since the general strike masters and men have been getting together. The result of that new spirit has been to put fresh life into our industrialism. We aro recovering from the world our competitive power, our trade is definitely improving, and, provided that no cataclysm of any kind in tho way of a sudden reversal or alteration of industrial policy in this country occurs, that progress will be maintained and improvement will continue to follow. So solid aro the foundations on which British industry now rests that half a million of the surplus of unemployed have already been absorbed in industry, and I have every hopp, given the conditions I have just mentioned, that the figures will shrink in time to normality. Ho Palliatives.

‘'Our efforts will be all the time, as they have been, to getting men into permanent employment rather than using palliatives. We are trying by arrangements with the Dominion governments to make it easier for. men and women to go to the Dominions overseas. We are trying by transference to get men from the black spots into districts where they can get work. We decided definitely against schemes that would lead to large borrowings, because we believed that they ran tho risk of causing inflation in the country.” What industry wanted to-day, he continued, more than anything else, were settled and stable conditions. Derating had removed from the overhead charges on industry from the twenty and thirty millions sterling. It had given the greatest assistance that had ever been given to industry in this country. Tho Government was satisfied also that the safeguarding of industries was a most valuable adjunct to producing permanent employment. In turning to the question of agriculture, and the means of helping it in its present condition, he said .that protection was ruled out. A subsidy would be of no use, unless it could bo guarantied that it would continue for an indefinite terms of years, and no one could give that guarantee. Tho government therefore had gone straight ahead to try to reduce the overhead charges on agriculture. The Prime Minister announced that tho government had decided that during the six months of tho year from October to March, which was always an anxious time for the stockkeeper, beef for the British Army. Air Force, and Navy, when in home ports, should all bo British. It was also proposed as an experiment that at least 25 per cent of flour now in bond for defence services should be flour-milled from homo wheat for six months after the harvest.

“Tragic Spectacle,” Says Daily Herald / STOCK EXCHANGE POINTER, Received Friday, 7 p.m. LONDON, April 18. With one or two exceptions, Mr. Baldwin’s programme finds an unresponsive echo in the press, though that is scarcely accepted as a reliable guide. It is interesting to note the. reaction on the Stock Exchange indicator before and after Mr. Baldwin’s speech., i In anticipation of the speech, the Conservatives’ price advanced three points and labour’s fell four points. After the speech, the Conservatives relapsed three points and Labour gained two. / Mr, Baldwin, in the course of his lolicy speech, forecasted the return of flic Conservatives with a majority of ' The Daily Herald, the Labour organ, describes Mr. Baldwin’s appearance on the stage at Drury Lano as the tragic spectacle of a common place performer, grinding out dreary nothings for an anxious people looking for aid. Mr. Baldwin starts with the thesis that the main duty of a Conservative statesman is to do . nothing for the masses. The country is sick and tired of his sentimental rhapsodising.”

Paramount Issue is Unemploy* ment PRIME MINISTER’S CASUAL REFERENCE. Received Friday, 7 p.m. LONDON, April 19. The Daily Express, which has been long insistent that unemployment is the paramount issue, says references to the responsibilities of the Empire and tho need for consistent development are excellent but the references to unemployment are casual and superficial, which showed that the politicians had not genuinely applied their minds to it and seemed unconscious that this was the supreme issue, not only at the election but to our social and xndus trial state. . , / , r _,, The Daily Chronicle says Mr. Baldwin has lived np to his reputation of being an honest man. He told his party ho could not promise a policy, Decause he did not have one!

Housing and Health,. No work done by tho government would stand the scrutiny of tho country more than that done by the Ministry of Health in housing. Ho believed that such progress had now been made in the building of houses that the time had como to go forward farther and faster in tho direction of clearing slums and reconditioning them. That would be the task to which the Conservatives, if returned to power, would devote the wholo of their strength and mind. Proposals were under consideration to extend ■ maternity benefits under National Health Insurance. One of the first acts of the government, when they came back, would be to form a strong committee to inquire into the whole subject of child wolfarc. The government proposed to establish an independent commission to consider the development of new resources in colonial territory. . In conclusion, Mr. Baldwin asked that the Conservative party should be judged by what it had performed. He would not, and could not, promise more than he could perform. "Ours is a policy of sobriety, which wc. can sec through, of nursing our trade into bet-

Debt Readjustment Will Be Live Topic labour seeks to make capital ' Roeeived Friday, 7 p.m. LONDON, April 18. The House of Commons “debt repudiation” debate is temporarily relegated to the background by Mr. Baldwin’s policy speech but nevertheless, there is every indication that it will flare up again as a prominent election issue, more especially in view, of the

ter condition, of looking after the education and health of our people, and particularly of women and children, a policy which goea into every home and every cottage throughout the country. From end to end it is a policy which you know will be carried out to the utmost of our ability, and I will promise nothing more."