MR. SHOWDEN AT HAGUE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1929, Page 11

MR. SHOWDEN AT HAGUE

MR. CHURCHILL AS CRITIC “RASPING AND PROVOCATIVE” CHANCELLOR’S WARM REPLY By Telegraph—Frees Assn.—Copyright. London, Dec. 24. Mr. Winston Churchill, discussing finance in the House of Commons, commented on the honours bestowed on Mr. P. Snowden since The Hague reparations conference, but the more indulgence and honour shown the more Mr. Snowden became crapulous and dictatorial, he said. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had been anxious to cast the blame for his self-made difficulties upon his predecessor’s shoulders. Examining Mr. Snowden’s record for the past six months Mr. Churchill pointed out that at The Hague Mr. Snowden only carried out the policy Mr. Churchill laid down when he, was Chancellor of the Exchequer. Certainly Mr. Snowden had made a good fight at The Hague, but in such a rasping and provocative manner that possibly he had lost a good deal of his small gain. Indeed, he gave away more than would have happened under the preceding Government’s arrangement. It was a matter for serious criticism that Mr. Snowden had failed to take advantage of a great opportunity to obtain liberation from the declarations in the Balfour Note and the self-denying clauses that Britain should not take any more from Europe than was taken from Britain for payment of the debt to the United States. It would have been his (Mr. Churchill’s) policy if there had been the slightest infringement immediately to claim release. Mr. Snowden still had that opportunity at The Hague. Alluding to the late Government's difficulties arising from the general strike, Mr. Churchill asked where was Mr. Snowden during the strike? He went into hiding. Mr. Churchill invited Mr. Snowden to say what was the actual amount of the country’s additional burdens which he had countenanced in the last six months. .He was using the silk and McKenna duties as a wedge between the Opposition parties in the hope of gaining a bridge of support for his future Budget. Mr. Snowden did not care a snap of the finger that 20,000 additional unemployed might be created. Mr. Snowden said that Mr. Churchill ncr.l not apologise for the length of his speech, which was appropriate to the occasion, because this was the only season of pantomime. (Laughter.) Mr. Churchill, he said, only eight, months ago proclaimed the sanctity of the Balfour Note, from which ho said the counfry would never bo asked to be relieved. If' Mr. Churchill had adopted some of his (Mr. Snowden’s) rasping manne.- in the negotiations wit!/ France and Italy he might have obtained a settlement more favourable to Britain.

All Mr. Churchill's difficulties arose before the strike in remitting taxation for the benefits of his political friends and raiding every reserve fund. It was his (Mr. Snowden’s) lot to make up Mr. Churchill’s deficiences —£95,000,000 of liabilities which Mr. Churchill could not meet from revenue, also £50,000,000 due to his raids. Had Mr. Churchill’s Budget been a company’s balance-sheet he would have found himself in the dock. (Labour cheers.) There was also .the task of making, up £59,000,000 which Mr. .Churchill short-paid to the sinking fund, which must be restored if Britain’s credit were, to be maintained. Virtually the whole of the present Government's increased expenditure was due to its predecessor’s commitments.