DEMAND FOR PROTECTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21195, 28 November 1930, Page 9

DEMAND FOR PROTECTION.

NATIONAL COUNCIL FORMED. (From Oca Own Correspondent.) ' LONDON, October 3. ■ : At a private meeting of 200 representative industrialists and business men last week ‘.'the formation, of. a National Council:'of.lndustry and Com-, merce was approved. Sir ' William ■ Morris, Who was in the chair, card, that it was astounding that fl. OOWltty such as ■ England, with each brains and workmen, should have continued its suicidal policy so long as it had. During the past 25 to 30 years—since the days of "Joseph Chamberlain—we had been financing the whole world •with our suicidal policy.—(Cheers.) This country was‘the dumping-ground of' world; and.it was quite time we did away with that dumping ground.—(Cheers.) They were told that without Freetrade. 1 this country must come to an end, hut could, an ; article produced by a foreign ‘country employ British- labour I—(Cries of “No.”) They were dealing not with theory but with facts. This country had always made a point of taxing: practically .everything it could not produce! On the other lmnd t if we could produce anything we then said to the foreigner, “Send it in free, we like it.” (Laughter and cheers.) i No manufacturers could continue under the taxation imposed on British j manufacturers 'and, produce goods which would sell all over thV world at a price :to compete with" our, competitors. The National Council wanted t6' see this - , altered, and also to see that our industries were protected.—(Cheers.) The crux of,the whole matter was the need’ of a strong Government.—(Cheers. A voice; “ A strong man "), a Government of men who knew what they were talking about—(cheers) —a .Government of men who. understood business.— (Cheers.) EMPIRE MARKET^. . Among the resolutions passed were the. following:— That the time has now arrived when it is essential that Great Britain should adopt a fiscal policy capable of meeting the crying needs of. the • times, and especially of .opening and preserving Empire markets ior Empire products. That immediatesteps 'should be taken to protect -hbuie industries by the imposition’df appropriate tariffs against imports from foreign nations which injuriously affect our trade and employment or limit the development of pur Imperial resources or hinder the’- co-operation of the component parts of the Empire. That the earliest possible action -should be taken in consultation with our dominions to design a fiscal system, for the mutual advantage of the nations of the British Commonwealth. And that a National Council of In-

dustry and Commerce be, and hereby is, formed to promote in every way the aforesaid objects irrespective of party politics. That whatever party may ho in office ■, for the time, our Government must keep its expenditure within the capacity of the country to pay and that a drastic ■ reduction of taxation is* urgently necessary ,if prosperity is to be restored'to , agriculture and industry, AN ALTERNATIVE OP DISASTER. Mr Gibson Janie said that the objects of ; the National Council were economic rather than political, and the assistance of members of all parties would be welcomed. It was proposed to establish local councils for propaganda and educational purposes. Toward this end they would seek the co-operation of trade' organisations, both of employers and workers, and of the press throughout the Empire. 1 The nucleus of a research department was already established .to collect and collate economic and other essential data. It was also proposed to give vigorous support to parliamentary caqdidates -who supported the National- Council's policy, * and. they intended to put -candidates of . their own into the .field* whewr there was no candidate whom they cCuld support—in order to ensure, if '. possible, that a candidate in favour of the National Council’s policy should contest every seat. A substantial fund would be Set np to advance the cause, and when their task was completed any-. unused portion would be returned pro rata to subscribers. “ We want workers,” he declared, “ we want people who realise the critical state into which the country has come, who recognise the fact that unless we men who have some stake in the country do something now, nothing lies ahead ot ns except disaster. .“Wo want to get this country {going, and wo arc going to do it”—-(Oheers.)