THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20092, 22 November 1930, Page 15

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

CONSERVATIVE DECISION.

CENSURE OF GOVERNMENT

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BY ELECTBIC TELEGRArIl—COPYRIGHT.)

(Received November 21st, 5.5. p.m.)

LONDON, November 20,

The Conservative leaders have decided to table a censure motion over the Government's part at the Imperial Conference. "*

They assert that the Conference failed through Great Britain's lack of preparation, and through the Government's refusal to act-opt the Dominions' offers, and its neglect to offer substantial preference. A British official wireless message says that surveying the results of the Imperial Conference in a broadcast speech last night, the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, Mr J. 11. Thomas, said the plan devised for the equality of legislative power concerning mercantile shipping was such that there would be a minimum of restriction on the movement of the ships of the various parts of the Empire. It was not to bo expected that, in the prevailing circumstances, a fullydeveloped scheme of inter-Imperial economic co-operation could within such a short space be produced; but l.lic adjournment of the discussions to the Ottawa Conference was. in itself a declaration of the belief that solid results would be achieved. The I.inited Kingdom Government's undertaking (o maintain for a period of years existing preferential margins was of great practical advantage to the producers, by removing doubts and uncertainty.

SAFEGUARDING DUTIES.

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT

(Received November 21st, 10.60 p.m.)

LONDON. November 20.

In i lie House of Commons, in answer to an enquiry whether the British undertaking at tho Imcprial Conference to maintain existing preferences lor three years applied to the MoKenna sutegiumling silk and key-industry duties, Mr Philip Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer) said the British declaration applied to all existing duties, but the obligation was governed by the existing law in relation to tho duration of the duties, also Parliament's right to fix ttie Budget yearly, Mr L. S. ..Aniory (Conservative) asked: Are you entitled, to abolish tho MeKenna duties altogether? Mr Snowden replied that the question did not arise.

Mr Aniery: Does not the Imperial Conference undertaking mean that tho Government pledges, unless it is overridden by Parliament, that it shall maintain every duty carrying preference.

Mr Snowden said there were several conditions in the declaration. It was subject to what might ho done at tho Ottiwa conference, al-o t.i> Parliament's rijj;!it to deal with-the duties. Subject to these conditions, there was an obligation to maintain existing preferences.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT POPULAR;. MR FORBES IN GLASGOW. LONDON, November 20. "While the ladies of the party enjoyed the beauties of the Art Gallery, Mr J. H. Scullin and Mr F. Brennan (Australia) braved tho pouring rain and toured the Glasgow fruit markets, and saw the colour scheme of Canadian arid Californian labels, as a hint to Australia to improve her drab methods. There was not a case of Australian fruit visible, but, as an object-lesson, there was a perfect Bample of Californ ian grapes, packed in cork dust. Tho merchants pleaded for direct shipments of apples from Australia, and Mr Scullin promised an immediate investigation.

The butter traders revealed a local prejudice in favour of pale butter, and admitted that the yellowness of the Australian product was wrongly regarded as a signJof rancidness. Members of the Royal Exchange gave Mr Sculliu a rousing welcome, and cheered to the echo his assurance that Australia would not be found wanting at.any due date. • Meanwhile Mr G. W. Forbes, among the wholesale butchers, learned that there was nothing wrong with New Zealand meat except that they could not get enough of it. The Dominions' representatives were given, a civic reception at the City Hall, at which Mr . Scullin and Mr Forbes agreed to consider using Glasgow more greatly as a distributing centre. .