OTTAWA BILL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 600, 2 November 1932, Page 1

OTTAWA BILL.

Irish Free State Excluded From Provisions.

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October 31

The first four clauses of the Ottawa Agreements Bill were agreed to by 232 votes to 52, during the debate on the second reading in the House of Commons, and the debate was adjourned. A large number of amendments were moved.

Major C. R. Attlee (Labour) moved to apply the Ottawa agreements to the Irish Free State during the present dispute and to cease the operation of Britain’s special duties on Irish products. If a settlement was reached the Free State could be treated as a foreign country or as a dominion without special arrangements. Mr J. H. Thomas (Dominion Secretary) said that the amendment proposed to give a premium to dominions seeking to repudiate their obligations. It was known before the Conference that the free entry of dominion products would cease on November 15 if an agreement was not made. Having failed to reach an agreement with the Irish Free State, the free entry of her goods must cease. Did the Opposition really believe that the workers and trade unionists of the country, who were accustomed to collective bargaining, approved of giving special privileges to those who repudiated their obligations? he asked. The Government would welcome the earliest opportunity of making a trade agreement with the Free State, but it must be an agreement within the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Free State could not expect to remain within the Commonwealth for economic and outside for political considerations. The amendment was defeated by 255 votes to 32. Duties Against Dominions. Discussing Clause 2, which provided that dominion products should be free from import duties, Sir Stafford Cripps (Labour) said that there was a proviso giving the Treasury power to impose duties in certain circumstances. He moved an amendment to prevent this. Mr L. (Secretary to the Board of Trade) said that the intention of the Government was to protect, firstly, the home producer and, secondly, the dominions producer. If it was found, after experience with the agreements that the home producer required a modicum of protection even against the dominions in respect of poultry or other agricultural products, he would not be deprived of the opportunity of obtaining it. That was why the clause was so framed. The amendment was defeated by 239 votes to 51. Safeguarding Supplies. Mr Rhys J. Davies (Labour) moved to exempt raw fruit from the duty, as it would of no benefit to home orchardists. The amendment was negatived by 270 votes to 53 Mr F. Kingsley. Griffiths (Liberal National) moved to delete all the duties if Empire producers were unable or unwilling to offer their commodities to Britain at world prices or in sufficient quantities. Mr Hore-Belisha said that though the proviso in this direction differed in the cases of Canada and Australia, the Commonwealth Government had agreed that the requirement as to quantities must apply to Australia. The amendment was negatived by 228 votes to 50.