REJECTED PROPOSALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22631, 24 July 1935, Page 9

REJECTED PROPOSALS

THE “NEW DEAL” PLAN i GOVERNMENT CRITICISED (British Official Wireless.) •- . RUGBY, July 22. Following the publication of the Government’s statement giving its reasons for its inability to accept Mr Lloyd George’s “ New Deal ” proposals, Mr Lloyd George has replied criticising the statement as “ the most complete essay in self-complacency.” He contends that the Government memorandum raises “ a clear-cut issue for the decision of the "electors at the next general election,” and he has • announced that he will proceed with the organisation of local “ councils of action ” to ensure that candidates at the next election are questioned on his proposals. BOASTFUL COMPLACENCY LONDON, July 22. Mr Lloyd George, replying to the Government, denounces the boastful complacency with which it seems to regard economic conditions, despite the depressed areas and the 2,000,000 unemployed. “ The bulk of The Cabinet’s memorandum,” he said, “is taken up by a torchlight procession on its own achievements. Its criticisms are curious and 'contradictory. The Government in one breath cavils at my proposals, and at the next suggests doing something similar on a minor scale. It is remarkable how it has given up the old argument that development projects cause financial embarrassments. The Government’s reply to my agricultural proposals is to adopt the Freetrade argument in its "'most fantastical and most distorted form, Food prices would not rise. If marketing was thoroughly organised the producer would gain a certain market and there would be an increased demand and reduction of distribution costs. Britain’s purchases from the dominions could be maintained at the present level. The increased production of milk, poultry and pigs would allow Britain to take considerably more cereals from the Empire. My policy would not mean cutting down the total imports. On the contrary, they would probably increase owing to greater industrial activity.”

Asked whether he intended placing his proposals before the dominions, Mr Lloyd George declared it would be regarded as an impertinence if he did. He added that the Government obliged him to undertake a great campaign, and he was organising extensively. He was ready for an election at any time.