DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 June 1925, Page 5

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

CHANGE IN LABOUR ATTITUDE WARM SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable* Association.) LONDON, dune 12 In tin l debate on the preference proposals Mr Guinness said the Dominions gave preferences during their development period, and now they had become a powerful factor in the worlds trade. We should do everything possible, within the Free Trade system, to give, corresponding benefits. The’ Dominions did not lack foreign suitors, commercially. Wo had had a free gift from the Dominions, faf- mere valuable in proportion than we were offering in return. Mi Harney said that preference was economically futile and poitically unwise. Ho declared that unless we gave Australia. New Zealand, and Canada advantages in. their primary products, wool, meat .anil wheat, preference was useless, and this would lead to the substitution of an irritating system of bargaining. A. division of opinion was revealed in the racks of the Labour Party, several of whom warmly supported preference, notahlv Mr Kirkwood.

Speaking on behalf of the Clydesiders, Mr Kirkwood said he wanted to go fur ther. and sell the Dominions’ produce in Britain at cost, price ; but they in no way favoured Free Trade and sweating. They infinitely preferred fruit from Australia, where it was produced for. fair wages and in hygienic conditions, to That from the Near East, where the conditions were appalling. Moreover, they wore all for cementing the Empire, which was ! the best, way towards accomplishing universal peace. Mr Winston Churchill, in reply, welcomed the extraordinary nianifesitakion from the Labour Benches, which, he knew, was the outcome of serious private discussions. It was a sign of tho development of Imperial trade. Apart from■ taxation, food was passing from the realm of party politics. He added that the whole of the preference would not reach the consumer, notably in sugar, which, however, would stimulate Empire production : but the smoker would reap the benefit in a reduction on tobacco immediately.

Mr Leo Smith’s amendment to postpone operation of preference’s until Ist January was defeated by 277 to 93.

TWENTY LABOURITES SUPPORT

LONDON, June 12.

Tn the preference division in the House of Commons, twenty Labour members voted for preference, compared with five last year. The National Union of Manufacturers is taking up the preference campaign with the slogan: ‘‘Buy British Goods.”

Labour Commoners supporting preference included front benchers Thomas, Hartshorn. Kennedy. Other front bem-hers, including Air MacDonald, were against it. Most of tlu> Clydesiders were absent, hut intimated that they would have voted with the Government.

Mr Lansbury wired asking to he pair, ed in favour of preference. At a recent meeting of the Labour Party 32 were anti-preference and 27 in favour of it. The last-named group increased by five in three days. The Daily Herald lobbyist says indications are that there is a steadily growing minority in the Labour Party in favour of a modified form of preference so long as it does not involve an increased cost of foodstuffs ami that tlie goods to- which preference is given are produced under fair Labour conditions.

NO TAX ON BASIC FOODS

AIR CHURCHILL’S ASSURANCE

LONDON, June 12,

In the House of Commons, Mr Churchill, in the course of the preference debate, said there was no danger that preference would lead to a tax on basic food and necessaries what might lead to a collision between the kith and kin of Britain and the dominions. Fur ten years the Conservatives had reputed any intention of taxing basic foods. Not one,, Liberal had challenged the preference resolution passed at the 1916 Imperial Conference. The more they could keep this controversy and party splitting issues out of the realm of Imperial development the more they would build up a great consensus of unity on basic freedom and goodwill.

NEW SPIRIT OF EMPIRI

LONDON, June 14. The Observer editorially comments on the Colonial 01 lice charges and the votes of Labour members for preference as an indication of the awakening of a new spirit of Empire. It, suggests that if Unionists and rising forces of labour are in agreement that Imperial policy is a national question we may hope to overtake the arrears of organisation and development which stand between Britain and economic recovery/’

PREFERENCE ADOPTED

LONDON, June 12,

By the rejection of Labourite Lee Smith’s amendment the House of Commons automatically adopted the Imperial preference ‘clauses in the Budget.