EMPIRE PREFERENCES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17228, 7 April 1930, Page 7

EMPIRE PREFERENCES

CONSERVATIVE’S POLICY TAX ON FOREIGN FOODS LONDON, April 5. Mr. Stanley Baldwin repeated his pledge that there would be no l’ood taxes without a referendum. lie said the Conservatives would proceed with safeguarding the moment, they were returned to office. They wanted a free hand with safeguarding where Hie Government considered it necessary- for the protection of the labor of its own people against cheaper labor or inferior conditions, or against dumping by any countries. It would be a weapon to use in negotiating treaties with protectionist countries in ease of need for retaliation if negotiations failed.

The question of food taxes would only- arise when the Imperial Conference had threshed out a treaty bctweeu Great Britain and the Dominions. If the Dominions, in exchange for .substantial benefits to our manufacturing industries, required corresponding benefits connected wilii foodstuff’s, in consequence of which it would lie necessary- to put taxation on foreign foodstuff’s, then the Conservalive Government would submit Hint treaty to the people of Great Britain, who would be free to vote ■“ Aye” or “Nay.” Nothing could be more democratic.