CAUTION URGED

Taranaki Daily News, 12 December 1931, Page 7

CAUTION URGED

DEMAND FOR PROTECTION MINISTER EMPHASISES RISK POSITION IN STEEL TRADE MR. W. RUNCIMAN HOPEFUL PROBLEMS NEED THOUGHT British Wireless. Rugby, Dec. 10. A strong demand for protection of the iron and steel industries by a protective tariff was advanced by Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery during the debate in the House of Commons on the Labour censure motion. ■Mr. W. Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, replying, said time must be taken for a careful survey of the whole complex problem. Hasty and ill-considered action might do irreparable damage to dependent industries, and the same medicine could not be applied to all these branches of manufacture. For the 180,000 engaged in the production of iron and steel there were 1,800,000 employed in the using trades.

Mr. Runciman cautioned advocates of a tariff against exaggeration. The home market had been well preserved for home industry without any protection, he said, and the fall in production of iron and steel in Britain had not been so great as the fall in the United States and Germany. Open as his mind was, it was closed against taking the risk which such a precipitate action would involve. In a matter spread oyer such a wide area there should be no attempt to rush a decision. Mr. Runciman concluded his speech on a hopeful note. He refused to accept the view that the outcome was as black as some advocates of tariffs represented it. On the broader issue he pointed out that it was a great source of strength to Britain that much of its essential foodstuffs came from countries that were on a sterling basis. The character of British business also was of the highest. Let them not assume that things were never going to become better. By approaching problems with assiduity and thought and by taking a complete and impartial survey of all aspects they could look forward with soma hope to a solution of these problems before long. To-morrow after the debate on the adjournment the House will rise for the Christmas recess and re-assemble on February 2. The Prime Minister announced this afternoon, however, that the adjournment motion would give power to the Speaker to call the House together earlier if public interests required it. Sir E. Hilton Young, Minister of Health, in answer to a question, said no evidence was available to justify the prohibition of the imports of Russian butter.