BRITAIN’S ONLY SALVATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18615, 10 July 1930, Page 9

BRITAIN’S ONLY SALVATION.

Safeguarding Of Industries. GRAVE CONCERN WITHIN LABOUR PARTY. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 9, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, July 9. There were strong speeches at a meeting of the Labour Members of the House of Commons. Mr Ramsay Macdonald complained that the critics in his own Party were causing dissatisfaction in their constituencies, instead of working in unity with the rest of the Party. NEARLY TWO MILLION MARK. BRITAIN'S INCREASING ARMY OP UNEMPLOYED, United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 9, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, July B. The unemployed are nearing the two million mark. The latest total is 1,890,600 for the week ending June 30—an increase of 75,258, compared with the previous week. EMPIRE FREE TRADE. SIR J. PARR CONVINCED. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 30. Sir James Parr is having a busy time in connection with his duties on behalf of Lord Beaverbrook's Empire Free Trade Campaign, but he is finding his work intensely interesting, and he is addressing large numbers of people who have a multitude of differing vocations and represent widely differing economic and political views. He is one of the principal orators of the new movement, and he is well equipped, having the gift of being able to carry an audience with him.

When he is in London, Sir James is to be found at the headquarters of the Campaign, in Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square. There, yesterday, I called to ask him to report progress for the benefit of the New Zealand reading public. On the subject of Empire Free Trade he was quite optimistic, and, indeed, full of keen enthusiasm. "Six months ago, many of my friends,” said Sir James, "shrugged their shoulders about my new work. Some said the Beaverbrook programme was impracticable, others said it was a mere newspaper stunt, and would fizzle out in a month. But I felt it was right, and to-day I am sure I am backing a winning horse. I say this after some months’ experience in addressing all sorts of audiences. England is getting ‘fed-up’ with free trade. Factory upon factory is closing down, being crushed out by cheap foreign goods which are dumped through England’s free ports. The Aim in View. “The unemployed will soon reach the ghastly total of two millions. The ‘dole’ and local relief costs the taxpayers eighty-four millions a year—a fearful drain on industry. And the industrialists are dispirited and broken. No one will put capital into industry. And so it happens that the public is now inclined to give our remedy a chance. Lord Beaverbrook's object is to protect English industries, to stop dumping, create large scale production, and to create an immense new’ Empire market for Empire goods. I admit that the title of the Campaign—Empire Free Trade—is somewhat unfortunate. But Lord Beaverbrook began it with that name and he does not see his way to alter it now. We are aiming at closer fiscal reciprocity, with free trade in as many articles as possible. "I worked at a by-election at Fulham last month,” continued Sir James. “Lord Beaverbrook entered this constituency and he preached the bald and naked gospel of a food tax on all foreign goods. He won the seat. It was a great answer to the free importers, who say that England will not stand a food tax. Yesterday we won the Nottingham by-election on much the same issue by a majority of 7000 votes. This is now the dominating political issue of Great Britain. Highly Important Report. “An interesting thing happened this morning," said the ex-High Commissioner. “A Trades Unionists Committee have come out strong for protecting English manufactures and for a great Empire economic union. Of course, this is the last thing that Mr Snowden wants. But the rank and file is coming over. This remarkable and unanimous memorandum on the policy to be followed at the Imperial Conference is signed by the following powerful members of the Economic Committee of the General Council of the Trade Union Congress: Mr John Beard (the chairman of the Trade Union Congress), Mr Ernest Beaven (Transport and General Workers’ Union), Mr Ben Tiiiett, M.P. (vice-chairman of the General Council), Mr George Hicks (Union of Building Trade Workers), Mr John Hill (of the Boilermakers), Mr E. L. Poulton (Boot and Shoe Operatives), Mr Arthur Pugh (Iron and Steel Trades Confederation), Mr T. Richards (Miners’ Federation of Great Britain), Mr Will Thorne, M.P. (General and Municipal Workers). “This Charter shows that trade unionists are dead against the Free Trade of Mr Snowden and Mr Macdonald.

“Mark my words," said Sir James with conviction, “the next General

Election will deal Free Trade its deathblow. The people of England are in the mood to accept a food tax on all foreign foodstuffs if they can get as a quid pro quo from the Dominions and colonies a good share of the goods which the Dominions are buying from foreign countries. It is a national disgrace that the Dominions and colonies should spend nearly 500 million pounds in buying goods from foreign nations of which England could supply at least 80 per cent. . INTEREST IN BANKERS* RESOLUTION. POLITICAL PARTIES PERTURBED. British Official Wireless RUGBY, July 7. The declaration on the subject of Imperial trade relations, which was issued last Friday, signed by 14 prominent London bankers and others, was discussed at a large number of political meetings during the weekend. The manifesto declared that the immediate step . for securing and extending markets for British goods lies in reciprocal trade agreements between the nations of the British Empire. Sir Austen Chamberlain, speaking at Birmingham, coupled the announcement with that of the trade unions, whose recent report, he said, represented a complete change of view on the tariff question. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister (who was President of the Board of Trade in the late Government), speaking at Tenterden,. said the pronouncement was of the highest consequence, as the signatories included some men, who, in the past, had been among the most rigid adherents of Freetrade. Mr C. T. Cramp (secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen) speaking at West Hartlepool, emphasised the need of the overseas markets keeping pace with the growth of the population in Britain. He said the Trades Union Committee believed that the new difficulties necessitated a new outlook unhampered by tradition.

Sir Herbert Samuel (Liberal) was very critical of the manifesto in a speech at Altrincham. He said it was not to be supposed that the signatories were speaking for the institutions to which they belonged. He awaited information that the directors of those institutions had passed resolutions for a protective tariff. He illustrated the difficulties of reciprocity, and said the adoption of the plan advocated would cause continual uncertainty in the conduct of business, and would involve a general rise in the cost of food. Sir Joseph Stamp (Liberal), who is one of the directors of the Bank of England, in an interview with the “Daily Herald,” said the circumstances of the issue of the manifesto were shrouded in mystery. A day or so before two at least of the signatories were as staunch Freetraders as they ever were.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Philip Snowden) was interviewed last night, and said that of the 14 signatories, only about half appeared to be bankers, and he characterised as impudent their profession to represent financial opinion.

The Foreign Secretary (Mr Arthur Henderson), at Cromer, challenged Lord Beaverbrook’s statement that 200 Labour members of Parliament were waiting to transfer their allegiance to Empire Freetrade. There were not two score prepared to adopt that policy.

It is reported that the bankers’ manifesto will be discussed to-night at the Liberal Party’s meeting at the House of Commons.

The publication of the manifesto has created great interest abroad, notably in the United States and Germany.