“NO TAXES ON FOOD”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18537, 7 April 1930, Page 9

“NO TAXES ON FOOD”

Mr Baldwin Repeats Promise. REFERENDUM TO DECIDE. (Uattod Preoa Association—By EXectrlo Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received April 6, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 5. Mr Baldwin, in an address this week, repeated the pledge of no food taxes without a referendum. He said the Conservatives would proceed with safeguarding the moment they returned to office. They wanted a free hand with safeguarding where the Government considered it necessary for the protection of the labour of our own people, against cheaper labour or inferior conditions, or against dumping by any countries. It is the weapon to use in negotiating treaties with protectionist countries, in case of the need for retaliation, if negotiations failed. The question of food Uaxes would only arise when the Imperial Economic Conference had threshed out a treaty between Great Britain and the Dominions. If the Dominions, in exchange for substantial benefits to our manufacturing industries, required corresponding benefits conected with food stuffs, in consequence of which it would be necessary to put taxation on foreign foodstuffs, then the Conservative Government would submit that treaty to the people of Great Britain who would be free to vote “Aye” or “Nay.” Nothing could be more democratic.