HEAVY PROTECTIVE DUTY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1933, Page 7

HEAVY PROTECTIVE DUTY

FRANCE ADOPTS SCHEDULE CHEAP COMPETITION FEARED TARIFF AFFECTS BRITAIN

measure passes chamber

By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Paris, July 8.

The Chamber of Deputies to-day passed a Bill embodying 30 to 150 per cent, tariff increases on 64 commodities, half of which affect British imports. The Tariff Commission’s report was not circulated beforehand, as is customary, and members were unaware of the nature of the measure and demanded enlightenment. M. Daladier, Prime Minister, replied that the Bill was intended to consolidate disadvantageous tariffs, whereupon it was passed without debate by 488 votes to 10. French opinion fears a further price collapse in America leading to a flood, of cheap goods, necessitating a defensive barrier. FRENCH LEADER’S POLICY PROGRAMME OF PUBLIC WORKS. TRADE AND FINANCE PLANS. Paris, July 9. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Daladier, Prime Minister, announced the repayment of half of the British £30,000,000 loan at the end of July. He added that the Government was contemplating an ambitious international public works policy. France sought neither a closed door nor self-sufficiency in the economic sphere. Expenditure had been reduced for the first time since 1926, the deficit being £17,588,823 lower. The May revenue was £9.407,059, compared with £4,282,353 in May, 1932. The Government desired to rationalise the French Empire markets to avoid useless competition. The FourPower Pact was not a goal but a stage of political development, and. France would maintain cordial relations with Italy, from which country a misunderstanding had too long separated her. Franco-British relations were constant and cordial.

The return of economic stability depended upon the stability of currencies. M. Daladier denied that he was aiming at a dictatorship or constitutional changes. He would inflexibly preserve France from violence. She could remain calm midst a chaotic world of nations trying out improvisations.