ON A FIRM FOUNDATION

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1934, Page 5

ON A FIRM FOUNDATION

TRADE OF BRITISH EMPIRE

OTTAWA NOT A HANDICAP PROVES TO BE A BENEFIT INCREASES IN THE TOTALS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7.45 p.m. London, Nov. 28. Mr. D. J. Colville, Under-Secretary for Overseas Trade, replying to /the debate on the Liberal amendment to the Address from the Throne, said that speaking as one who had been closely associated with all trade negotiations with foreign countries, and realising fully the limitations which the Ottawa agreement imposed on Britain he thought she had not suffered but from the first had secured a firm foundation for Imperial trade.

Britain’s exports to the Dominions increased by a total of £17,250,000 since 1932, which was the cause of the restoration of much employment, while her imports from the Dominions increased by nearly £24,000,000, so that it could not be complained that the interests of the Empire were damaged. The Government in view of the failure of the World Economic Conference had negotiated 30 trade agreements with foreign countries and was now negotiating with others. The Liberal amendment, which attacked the Government’s interference with private enterprise, was defeated by 358 votes to 25.