TARIFF REFORM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 78

TARIFF REFORM.

BRITISH OPINION CHANGING. THE BEAVERBROOK CAMPAIGN. WELLINGTON, September 23. *' There is an undoubted feeling in England for some change in tariff reform,” said Mr A. M'Nicol, of Dannevirke, a member of the New Zealand delegation to the Empire Press Conference, who returned by the Maunganui to-day. Mr M’Nicol said he had spoken in England to Sir James Parr, who was in the forefront of the Beaverbrook campaign, and had been assured that there was a big industrial swing towards a policy for the protection of British manufactures. This, said Mr M’Nicol, seemed to have been borne out, for instance, by recent byelections in industrial centres. He referred to the example of a by-election conducted in a staunch industrial division in Glasgow which had been overwhelmingly in favour of the Labour candidate at the previous election. On the occasion in noint, however, the “ Empire Crusader ” had come within an ace of winning, and a majority of 6000 in favour of Labour had dwindled to 400. It was typical, said Mr M'Nicol, of a growing tendency. Tariff reform as advocated in the Beaverbrook campaign, would probably come about, no matter whether Lord Beaverbrook was leading it or anyone else. The trouble with a large body of Conservative people really in favour of some sort of tariff reform was that they resented the personal attacks that were being made on Mr Stanley Baldwin in the Rotnermere press.

“So far as the dole and such things are concerned,” said Air M Nicol, “ I do not feel inclined to express any opinion. I am reluctant to comment on the trend of British domestic affairs mainly because I do not feel that New Zealand has made such a howling success of its own country.’’ There was one thing, however, that the delegation had found, he said, and it was an extremely pleasant thing to find. He referred to the fact that English people, and, indeed, the Canadians, Americans, and Continental nations, held New Zealanders in high esteem. The most inspiring thing that they had met with in English social conditions was the educational work that was being carried out at Liverpool. There they were erecting three magnificent open-air schools that were designed to incorporate the best features of similar schools which had been built on the'Continent. The main result of the Imperial Press Conference would be a better understanding of improved methods of communication, particularly the methods of beam wireless, said Mr M'Nicol. Twelve delegates had been present from New Zealand, and there was no doubt that the conference had been an admirable opportunity for the interchange of ideas between the newspaper interests of the Empire.