CONDITIONS IN BRITAIN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18072, 10 January 1921, Page 4

CONDITIONS IN BRITAIN.

A SLUMP IN TRADE, MUCH UNEMPLOYMENT. CHANGING VIEWS ON TARIFFS, Conditions in Britain were referred to by Mr G. Toogood, a solicitor, of Wellington, who returned by the Makura after spending some years at Home. Mr Toogood stated that there was no question that the forces of pro gross were at work, and that the British Government was exercismg a good deal of imagination in at tempting to meet different problems as they arpse. Mr Lloyd George, ne said, certainly enjoyed the confidence of the people to a marked degree. This was due in a large measure to his honest sympathy with the masses.

Economic conditions in Britain were undoubtedly bad. .Many factories were compelled to close down, and large numbers of operatives were being rendered idle in consequence. This was largely due to existing conditions in Europe. Prior to the war Britain had there a large market at her very dnor, but to-day the people on the Continent wero wi’/nout the means with which to purchase British manufactured goods, and as a result there was a slump in trade. This, said Mr Toogood, was one of the natural after effects of the Great War. and some time would necessarily elapse before, matters were readjusted. Some people were of opinion that the period of readjustment would be almost as long as the period over which the war extended. Once the affairs cf the Continental Powers were placed on a sound commercial basis then conditions in Britain would improve rapidly.

On the whole the business people of Britain were facing their difficulties with optimism and courage, and there was no doubt that they would successfully survive the troublous times through which the country was now passing. The spirit demonstrated by the British during the war was being manifested to-day, and thr people were always seen at theh best when adverse conditions obtained.

So far as industrial conditions were concerned, Mr Toogood stated that, the Whitley Council movement had made considerable progress. There was an attempt to establish a common platform where capital and labour could meet, and discuss thp.fr problems and endeavour to arrive at settlements satisfactory to both parties. It was felt by those responsible for initiating this system that the proper place to deal with any grievances was at their source—that was at the works. The question of a preferential tariff within the Empire also formed f he subject of some remarks by Mr Toogood. He had, he said, followed this question very carefully during the war. and had found that many of Britain’s statesmen considered that the policy of free trade would have to undergo considerable modification when peace was restoried and normal trade conditions obtained. Although nothing definite hud been done with regard to this question, it. was being discussed by prominent people, who favoured a tariff giving preference to the countries comprising the Empire. The Labour Party, of course, was opposed to any suggestion of a tariff, and this doubtless accounted for the fact that comparatively little had been done by the Government In the direction of tackling the question of altering its policy of free trade. “Strangely enough.” said Mr Toogood, “although the Labour Partv is now opposed to a tariff, the opinion is held by many able men in England that it will be through the agency of fhat party that a tariff will bo introduced; the reason given for tins view is that the Labour leaders will ’find from experience that the payment of high wages will not be possible if the employer is not prospering. The free market enables countries like America and Germane to dump their goods In England and compete with local manufacturers. The result will be that men will not .have sufficient employment, and th, n file Labour leaders will sed the necessity for protecting local Industries "