BRITISH METALS INDUSTRY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14587, 14 December 1917, Page 5

BRITISH METALS INDUSTRY.

EXCLUSION OF GERMAN INFLU-

ENCE.

GOVERNMENT'S BILL CHAL-

LENGED

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) •'

London, Beg. 12

In the House of Comrnonsj the NonFerrous Metals Bill was read a second-! time by 182 votes _to 79.

Mr Riiiicimnn declared that the Bill-' was unworthy of the British nation. The Government should also consider how far it conflicted with President Wilson's economic policy.

Mr Bonar Law declared that the Bill was based on the Paris Conference resolutions. He denied that it would interfere to any extent with trade, and reiterated tfcat they .must stop German penetration. It was esential to let our enemies know"" that we!''realised the powers we had and when thetime came we should not hesitate to use them. Ifc was perfectly plain that many members of the House thought it would be the right thing after the war to deal with Germany precisely as in the past. *There were cries of "Never." Mr Bonar Law added tkat the Bill really raised a by-issue of policy. Members had to decide wiether they meant to make a change in their relations with Germany after the war.