BRITISH TRADE POLICY

Dominion, 14 March 1919, Page 5

BRITISH TRADE POLICY

IMPORTANT STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT AFTER-WAR RECOVERY MEASURES By Telegraph—Press Asßodation— QoP.vright (Rec. 'March. If, 0.40 a.m.) London, March 13. In tho House of Commons, i" response to Sir Donald MncLcan's demand lor a statement of the Board of Trade s policy, the .absence of which, ho said, interfering with the recovery ol tirade, Sir Auckland Geddcs (Minister for Reconstruction) raid that the Governments policy was to reduce the prices of raw materials to what- might 1)6 regarded as u fair post-war lc-vol. Raw material from any part of tho Empire was now tree of import restriction. Haw material required for British industries was also free. manufactured articles necessary tor Britii.ii manufactures was free, except where they were produced by British industries which it v.'iis necessary to tester. Manufactured articles were subject to restrictions when unnecessary for consumption in Britain, or when produced 'by industries which required _ shielding Iremioroign competition while in course ot ircestablishineut after the war. The arrangement would be reviewed on beptember I, and was without prejudice to the country's future fiscal policy. I'ko Government hnd still to maintain tho blockade, which lie hoped would lie abandoned in a few weeks. Thero were no restrictions on exports to the non-blockade countries, except on articles required for the Army ami Navy. Goods required for home consumption or manufacture were subsidised by the Government. It was hoped thus to enable tho country's trado to recover and become greater than ever. —Aus.-N.Z, Cablo Assn.