PROPOSALS AMPLIFIED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21100, 6 February 1932, Page 9

PROPOSALS AMPLIFIED.

EXTEA DUTIES LATER. POLICY FOR 1 OTTAWA. TARIFF AS A WEAPON. INDUSTRIES' DIRE STRAITS. By Telegraph—Press ABFocifltion— Conrright. LONDON*. Feb. 4. In amplifying the Government's tariff proposals in the House of Commons the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that where there is an existing duty the article thus dutiable will bp subject to the 10 per cent, general tariff. Tn- regard to the placing of wheat on the free list, Mr. Chamberlain reminded the House of the Government's intention to deal with it by the quota system. On the free list would also be found the raw materials of the two great textile industries —raw cotton and raw wool. Tea also was included in the free list because it was considered more convenient to deal with it in conjunction with other beverages, such as coffee and cocoa, in the ordinary course of the Budget. On the superstructure of the ad valorem duties there would be additional duties on non-essential articles, such as luxuries, or goods which could be produced in sufficient quantifies at home. These would be dealt with by Treasury orders after consultation with the departments concerned. Jt would be the function of the Advisory Committee to consider the circumstances of such articles in the light of the general interests of trade and the community. The Government intended to pproach the Ottawa Conference with a full determination to promote arrangements which would lead to a great increase in interImperial trade. Labour Objects to Bargaining. Major C. P. Atlee, Labour member for Limehouse, who followed Mr. Chamberlain, said the Labour Party was comprised neither of bigoted protectionists nor free traders. It believed tariffs were an ineffective weapon. The Ministry had introduced a general utility tariff, which, as Mr. Chamberlain himself had envisaged, would lead to a tariff war. The member said he did not believe bargaining was a good method of cementing Britain's friendship with the Dominions. The scheme amounted to a dole to separate industries, and would lead to the same ramp as in other protectionist countries. There was no protection for the worker, and nothing to ensure efficiency. Colonel J. C. Wedgwood (Labour— New-castle-under-Lyme) said the effect of the tariff would be the appreciation of sterling, which would injure Britain's exports. The Government had been driven by " Beaverbrook and Company," and had taken another step on the road to ruin.

TariS Only a Fledgling. Mr. L. S. Anierv (Conservative —Sparkbrook, Birmingham), formerly Secretary for the Dominions, said this was a day of deliverance rather than fulfilment. It was a mere adumbration. The tariff was a fledgling, not a full-grown bird. Xobodv could imagine that 10 per cent, would make an appreciable differenco to foreign manufactures entering the country. Many industries were in aire straits and time was pressing. Mr. Amery said he hoped the Advisory Committee would be instructed to produce in a few weeks an ad valorem emergency scheme, which could be developed into a workable system of protection. He congratulated the Government unreservedly upon its statesmanlike course in preparation for the Ottawa Conference.

ENTHUSIASTIC COMMENT WAY TO PROSPERITY. ECONOMIC CIVIL WAR ENDED. (Received February 5. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 5. With the e.xception of the News-Chron-icle and Daily Herald the London press is enthusiastic over the tariff plan. The Times says it will be received by the country with the same satisfaction as it was by the House of Commons. It will n')t please theorists, who foresee ruin as the result of any departure from the old, orthodox, practice of free imports. Nor will it satisfy the equally impracticable theorists, who seek the country's salvation by recklessly destroying foreign trade. But the great mass of the public will not heed the theorists of either school, says the Times. They will welcome the scheme as a workmanlike attempt to help the country out of its difficulties and set the way to renewed prosperity. The Morning Post says the country for nearly 30 years has seen the truth of all the late Mr. Joseph Chamberlain prophesied and feared. He said in his last speech in 1905: "We are falling behind and in the times of depression, which are bound to follow, we shall be the chief sufferers." He added that without a change it would be impossible to find employment fur the increasing population. The Post says the country may be congratulated upon the fact that the long economic civil war is ending. The Daily Mail says that for the first time since the trade era began preference is granted on a large scale to the Dominions. There is no doubt whatever that this bold policy of preference and well-studied protection will, as Mr. Neville Chamberlain said, lay the foundation of a ntw spirit of unity and cooperation throughout the Empire. "It is the beginning of a new era, says the Daily Telegraph. "This mighty departure from age-long fiscal tradition mnv have sprung out of a temporary emergency, but it is now Riitain s futuie permanent policy."

CONTRARY OPINIONS. GLOOMY VIEW OF RESULTS. (Itcceived February 6, 12,25 ft.nO LONDON. Feb. 5. The Daily llernld says tariffs will not reduce unemployment. Ibe inevitable reduction of imports means » diminution df export* Moreover, tariffs are the poteni cause of international fnttion. 'llis News Chronicle says: "The only good likely to come from this plunge into protection is accidental. Maybe the closing of the. British market, will have results «o serious in the present state of Europe that it, will lead to a general collapse of the whole tariff system. is the best tiling that could happen.