PRACTICAL JOKE

Northern Advocate, 7 February 1925, Page 5

PRACTICAL JOKE

OF BAD VARIETY. LLOYD GEORGE METAPHOR. TARIFF CONTROVERSY. LONDON, February 5. Mr Lloyd George, in an interview today, described the new Board of Trade regulations regarding the safeguarding of industries as " a bad practical joke." The Liberal members of the House of Commons would, lie said, ask for a day for discussion of the regulations immediately Parliament reassembled. —A. and N.Z.

! A cable message from London this i week stated: "The tariff controversy has been revived by the publication of a Board of Trade aimouncement indicating that the Government, instead of introducing the Safeguarding of Industrie.4 Bill, intends to incorporate the duties required in the Finance ■ Bill after the Board of Trade Com- ! mittec has reported favourably and " the Treasury has concurred. It is specifically mentioned that food and drink are excluded." The "Daily Telegraph" regards the plan as effectively forestalling a combined at- , tack against the Government's fiscal ! policy, since Parliamentary control is j preserved and there is no excuse for ! anyone saying that the Government j intends to create a general tariff. The ' "Morning Post" characterises the I proposals as disappointing and inadei quate, but they may educate the nation towards a better policy. The "Daily Chronicle" says: "If we are not careful we shall find the Board of Trade armed with powers enabling it to reverse the whole fiscal policy." ■ The "Daily Express" says: "The Opposition may accuse the Government of unconstituti.onalism, but the Cabinet argues that in the House of Commons, instead of academic discussions, it Avill be able to deal with any specific duty proposed."