PROTECTION IN TRADE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17957, 8 December 1932, Page 3

PROTECTION IN TRADE

OTTAWA AGREEMENTS BIRMINGHAM’S ENTHUSIASM i“Since the days of Joseph. Chamberlain, Birmingham has been intensely imperialistic and intensely protectionist, consequently it is only in accordance with tradition that the results of the Ottawa Conference should be greeted with enthusiasm in our city,” said Mr J. Thacker, a member of the Birmingham. City Council, and retired head of one of the city’s biggest manufacturing businesses, who arrived at Wellington by the Ruahine on his third visit to New Zealand. •Birmingham, said Mr Thacker, was dependent upon, flic, sale of its manufactures for its prosperity, and realised that it was . in. its interests to have duties levied upon foreign goods entering the United Kingdom. “The strongest opposition to the Ottawa pact,” lie continued, “is to bo found in. the north in Lancashire and Yorkshire; but they are gradually coming •round to realise that the advantages they derive from having raw materials come in free.do not nearly compensate for competition from Continental and Asiatic countries, which pour cheap cotton anil woollen goods into the ■country. Lancashire, in 'particular, is in a very bad way, and something will have to be done to. bring relief. “The fact that the first; exhibition of the Empire. Marketing Board was was held in Birmingham was sufficient; to indicate the city’s deep-rooted predisposition .towards Empire produce.” Mr Thayker lias had a lengthy connection with local government and poor relief work, and .in regard to a cabled statemonti that unemployment had been recognised as a permanent problem in Britain, he said it was generally recognised that the time would soon come when shorter hours would have to be work in order to distribute work.