POLICY OF BALDWIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 13

POLICY OF BALDWIN.

APPEAL TO ELECTORS

;no TAXATION OF FOOD.

DOMESTIC legislation.

'AID TO AGRICULTURE.

[THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright 'Australian Press Association—United Service (Received April 10, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. April 19. The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bald v in, addressing 2000 Conservative leaders and organisers at the Drury Lane Theatre, outlined his electoral programme and the entire Cabinet platform. Mr. Baldwin aroused general laughter V beginning: "Mr. Lloyd George has said the Liberal Party is a party of pro mises. I accept, that, I am not a competitor. We are performers." He continued: "This country has far go in the direction of being humanised." He repeated his pledge not to introduce protection, and r.ot to impose any •taxes on food, and outlined further sluinclearing and educational reforms. Ours is a policy of sobriety," he said. !" We promise nothing that we cannot perform." Mr. Baldwin wont on to emphasise thd seriousness of the industrial situation. The ceneral strike proved to be a crisis, but since 1926 masters and men bad been setting together. The Conservative efforts Jiad been directed at getting the men permanent employment. The Government had decided definitely egainst a scheme which would lead to 3arge borrowings, believing it ran a risk of causing an inflation of the market, jvihich would make the cost of living rise. The Government was trying by arrangement with the Dominion Governments to make it easier for men and women to go to the Dominions and overseas colonies. (Cheers.) Recovery ol Industry. , 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 j\ o advise on the development of colonial territories. / Returning to the problem of unemployment, Mr. Baldwin pointed out that reorganisation was going on in all industries. As a regult-, Britain was recovering competitive power. As progress was maintained unemployment would continue to fall. A factor which would be of great assistance in the next five years would be that, owing to the falling birth rate during the war there would be several hundred thousand fewer entrains into industry than

was customat/V. A British official wireless message says the Prime Minister in the course of his speech said: " While others are searching for policies to meet an emergency which is not likely to arise, \(~s on our part have been immersed in a great struggle for years, and by a continuance of the policy in which we are engaged we shall continue the process that Ls now going on—that of con-

quering unemployment. "We are recovering from tlie world our competitive power. Our trade is definitely ; improving, and provided that no cataclysm oi 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 conI tinue to follow. " So solid are the foundations on which British industry now rests that 500.000 of the surplus oi unemployed have already been absorbed in industry, and I have every hope that, given tho conditions I have just mentioned, the figures will shrink in time to normality." Alleviatior by New Act. What industry wanted to-day more than anything else was settled and stable conditions. The derating scheme had removed from the overhead charge on industry between £20.000.000 and £30,000,000. It had given the greatest assistance that had ever been given to industry in this country. The Government was satisfied also that the safeguarding ct industries was a most valuable adjunct to producing permanent employment. Turning to the question of agriculture, and the means of helping it in its present condition, he, said protection was ruled cut. A subsidy would be of no use unless it could be guaranteed that it would con- / tinue for an indefinite term of years, and no one could give that guarantee. The Government, therefore, had gone straight ahead to try to reduco the overhead / charges on agriculture. The Prime Minister announced that the Government had decided that during tho six months of the year, from October to March, whirl/ was always an anxious lime for the stock-keeper, beef for the British Army, Air Force and Navy, when in home I ports, should all be home-killed. It was also proposed as an experiment that at least 25 per rent, of the flour now in bond for the defence services should he flour mill/rd from home wheat for six months after harvest. Clearance oi the Slums. No work'done by the. Government would stand the scrutiny of tile country more than that dc.hc by the Ministry of Health in housing. Ho believed that such progress had now been made in the building of houses tiiat the time had come to go forward farther and faster in tho direction clearing the slums and reconditioning thern. That would be t lie task to which the Conservatives, if they were returned to power, would devote the whole of their ''strength and mind. Proposals were under consideration to extend the maternity benefits under the national health" insurance scheme. One of Hie first a .is of the Government when it came bac.fe would bo to form a strong committee lo inquire into tho whole sub- , ject of child welfare. <-■ •' The Minister of Health, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in reply to a question, had stated that the Government proposed to establish an organisation one of whose '•functions would be to act as an agency for the purchase of radium for medical in this countrv or the Dominions and colonies. r n til that had been established, fl rcd experience had shown what the needs Sill ere > would be premature to consider ,ntern ational action regarding radium, as was suggested. i.