EMPIRE PREFERENCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17181, 11 February 1930, Page 7

EMPIRE PREFERENCE

MR. AMERY’S FIRM STAND FREE HAND DEMANDED THE CONSERVATIVE POLICY. (British Official Wireless.) Rec. 10 a.rn. RUGBY, Feb. H. Mr. L. S. Amery, Secretary for Dominions and Colonies in the late Conservative. administration, speaking at Birmingham, referred to the speech made by Mr. Stanley Baldwin outlin ing the future policy of the Conservative party, so far as safeguarding was concerned, clear and definite issues on which it could light with certainty of victory. Safeguarding was henceforward the main constructive and fighting policy of the party in dealing with unemployment, insofar as it could bo dealt with ill the Home market. He wished Mr. Baldwin could have insisted on demanding an equally free hand in the matter of Empire trade. It the safeguarding! of the Homo market was the most urgent and most immediately effective for dealing with unemployment in the long run, the devel opment of Empire trade was of even greater importance to the employment of; tho growing population. The declaration of Mr. Baldwin against .what was called taxing food . did, in effect, if interpreted in a lavishly literal sense, preclude all substantial advance in Imperial preference. He could not accept as meeting the urgency of the situation at, Home and in the Empire, or as corresponding to the greatness of the goal before them, a flat negative pledge of so sweeping and unqualified a character as to deprive a Government beforehand of all freedom of action .to advance the welfare ot our own people, or the strength and unity of the Empire. He felt bound to reserve bis freedom to preach the faith that was in him.

SAFEGUARDING MAY GO INDUSTRIES ALARMED DUMPING OF FOREIGN GOODS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received February 11. 10 a.m.) LONDON. Feh. 10. There are doubts whether Mr. Snowden will continue the McKenna duties and safeguarding, thus stagnating the hitherto prosperous industries, including! gramophones, piano making, wireless valves, and the glove trade. The Japanese are now dumping shirtings in Manchester, and even ready-made shirts, causing fear for further unemployment. One firm declares that Britain is now an ash pit for dumped goods from all over the world. Italy has begun dumping woollen goods, subsidised by Mussolini’s Government, undercutting British produce.

THE ECONOMIC CONFERENCE AN UNPLEASANT AUGURY (Received Feb. 11, 11 a.in.) VANCOUVER, Feb. 10. The Sun declares that the rejection of the Benverbrook plan is an unpleasant augury for the Empire economic conference.