MORE FREEDOM FOR CABINET

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19091, 25 January 1932, Page 7

MORE FREEDOM FOR CABINET

PASSING OF MENACING CRISIS FREE VO xE PERMITTED ON FISCAL ISSUE. British Official Wireless RUGBY, January 23. After a further two and a-half hours’ meeting Cabinet issued the following communique: “Cabinet has had before it the report of its Committee on the Balance of Trade, and, after prolonged discussion, it has been found impossible to reach a unanimous conclusion on the committee’s recommendations. The Cabinet, however, is deeply impressed with the paramount importance of maintaining national unity 1n the presenoe of the grave problems that now confront this country and the whole world. It accordingly is determined that some modification of the usual Ministerial practice is required. and has decided that Ministers finding themselves unable to support conclusions arrived at by the majority of their colleagues on the subject of Import duties and cognate matters are to be at liberty to express their views by speech and vote. It is believed that by this special provision it is best interpreting the will of the nation, and the needs of the time.”

Although the decision is not entirely 1 without precedent, it marks a strikj ing departure from the usual practice, | and has created exceptional interest j in political circles. | It is understood that the Cabinet Committee, which has been considering the balance of trade questions, comprised representatives of all three political parties, namely, Mr Runciman, Mr Neville Chamberlain, Sir j John Simon, Sir Herbert Samuel, Vis--1 count Snowden and Sir P. CunliffeLister.

“The Times” states that the proposal which found most favour in the comj mitte was one for the immediate | imposition of a 10 per cent, general I tariff, with limited exceptions, ac- ( companied by a proposal for the I creation of a committee empowered to ! make a more detailed examination of imports, and schedule those which might be subjected to higher rate of duty in later legislation. The decision now reached, which will allow Ministers in disagreement with the majority on this issue, freedom to express their views in Parlia- ; ment, indicated the importance attached to maintaining unity in face of I the problems of overwhelming signij ftcancc now before the world, j Satisfaction is expressed in Ministerial circles that the constitution is sufficiently pliable to permit of a ; development whereby co-operation on j all the main issues can be maintained, while allowing this freedom with regard to particular issues which for the time being are registered as of less importance. National Interests Paramount. Lord Hailsham, speaking at Birmingham, said: I think you will be surprised when you see the proposals. These will not be acceptable to some members of »Jie Cabinet and would lead to resignations in ordinary times, but these are not ordinary times. I believe that with this knowledge even these fiscal difficulties will fail to shake the solidarity of the Cabinet, and strengthen our position abroad. Well informed circles infer that the International situation is at the bottom of the imperative wish to keep the Cabinet together. Another deduction is that the very fact that the free trade ministers have not resigned shows that the tariff proposals cannot be extreme; indeed, when the House of Commons meets the Government may have to meet a strong attack by high protection Conservatives. who are desirous of a tariff ’ to exceed the 10 to 15 per cent., which, 1 it is understood the majority of the | sub-committee of Cabinet favour. Views of the Press. ! “The Morning Post” says: We agree 5 as to the importance of maintaining ; national unity in face of the present f evil aspect in the world, nevertheless ? we feel the expedient is not sound and I cannot well succeed. * “The Daily Telegraph” states: This is an emergency solution, and on no * other grounds would it be acceptable. It has been an unwritten rule for a Minister to resign before he speaks or g votes against his colleagues. It is a j good sound rule and should be restored as soon as things become normal. The breach is only justified by a emergency. “The Daily Express” understands 3 that the majority of Cabinet is in e favour of a 10 per cent, duty on all t Imports, except wheat, meat and cotr ton. e “The Times” says: There is noi thing more simple thaq, to pour ridio cule and sarcasm on the decision of e Cabinet, but second thoughts should f convince everyone, except those who f would rather see the National Government collapse than continue, that the y decision is neither humorous nor humiliating. The experiment will be justified or condemned by results. A common front Is now more than ever . required by the hard facts of a disi ordered world. It is not necessarily II doomed by the action of a few minisr ters towards one item of the national ® programme. e d e Through Critical Eyes. n Mr J. H. Clynes (Home Secretary in the late Labour Cabinet), says the ls Government is making a farcical pre--0 tence at acting as a Cabinet, when

It is quite unable to agree upon the main lines of its main policy. It is a piece of pantomime, which Parliament ought to denounce. Mr W. Wedgwood Benn (Secretary for India in the late Labour Cabinet), says: “We now have plain Tory rule.” Lord Passfield: “I do not see how it can possibly work.” Liberal quarters say the Govemhas presented Mr Lloyd George with magnificent material for an attack, but it is conceded that an open split in the Government would damage British handling of world affairs.”