TARIFF PASSED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 11

TARIFF PASSED.

VOTE IN COMMONS.

NEW DUTIES ON MONDAY.

CONSERVATIVES ELATED.

OVATION TO CHANCELLOR.

NEW ERA FOR BRITAIN.

By ToWrnpli--Press Association—Copyright (Received February 26, 8.5 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 20.

The Imports Duties Bill was passed by the House of Commons last evening. Tt will receive the Royal Assent on Monday and tho new duties will be chargeable after 5 p.m. on that day. In the closing stages of (lie debate Major C. 11. Attleo (Labour —Liwehousef moved a new clause to provide that tho duties would bo withdrawn from any industry which failed to reorganise itself in accordance with the requirements of the Board of Trade.

This was rejected by 356 votes to 46. Tho Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in replying to the debate, declared that tho emptiness of the Labour benches throughout tho proceedings showed that whatever tho Labour members said they were sanguine that the bill would remove tho whole subject from the field of controversy. Tho British worker was a protectionist at heart and recognised that, his only chanco of maintaining the standard of life was the same protection that other nations enjoyed. Future historians would mark the passago of this bill as Britain's beginning of ;i new career. Hand in hand with her own possessions and sister countries within tho Empire sbo would become tho central figure of a great economic federation, wide arirl strong enough to withstand any checks to her fortunes in future. Tho bill was then read a third timo by 442 votes to 62 amid wild Conservative cheering. Mr. Chamberlain was given an ovation as ho re-entered the Chamber.

FOREIGN IMPORTS.

RUSH TO BRITAIN.

ACTIVITY AT THE PORTS. (Received February 2(>. 8,15 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 26. There has been a heavy rush of foreign imports during the, last few days, and the. Port of London Authority's wharves have been crowded. Waterside workers at many ports have been working night and day. Denmark and Holland are, sending record quantities of condensed milk, and every available ship is being used to land German potatoes. Manchester this week received 20.000 tons of general cargoes above the normal. The captains of ships on every sea within the possibility of reaching British ports by Monday have been ordered to make full speed and to land their cargoes at- the, first, available port if they cannot reach their normal destinations. (Shipowners arc taking out insurances against delays on cargoes, and are. paying premiums up to half tho duties leviable ou them.

LABOUR OPPOSITION.

SMALLNESS OF MUSTER.

"NO EFFECTIVE RESISTANCE." (Received February 27. 12.15 a.m.) LONDON. Feb. 26. Surprise is expressed in Parliamentary circles at the small muster of Labour members against tlip Import Duties Bill. They totalled only about 38. It is estimated that 23 of Sir Herbert Samuel's group of Liberals, including the Home Secretary himself, voted against the Government.

The Morning Post says: Who could have foreseen a year, or even six months, ago that wo should travel so far so soon. Incredible as it must seem, there has been no effective resistance.