CHAMBERLAIN TARIFF

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1932, Page 11

CHAMBERLAIN TARIFF

SCIENTIFIC SYSTEM

MODERATE PROTECTION

A CRITICAL COLLEAGUE

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 6th February, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, sth February. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's explanation of a "System of moderate protection scientifically adjusted to the needs of industry and agriculture" was ten per cent, on all imports with certain exemptions both here and in countries which benefited from the open markets Britain had hitherto extended to the world.

The complete schedule of imported goods to be exempted from the ten per cent., duty, which comes into force on Ist March, will remain undisclosed until the Trade Bill is discussed next week. Foreign barley, maize, and oats will be taxed, as well as foreign flour. Other items on the free list will be meat, including bacon and fresh fish of British taking, raw cotton and wool, and tea, with the reservation that it may or may not be taxed in the next Budget. The promotion of tariff agreements with other countries is a prospect which the Government hopes to see fully availed of, but great stress is placed upon the opportunity for the advancement of the Imperial economic partnership. Loud cheers greeted the Chancellor's announcement that neither the general tariff nor new specific duties to be passed on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee would apply to goods from the Dominions, at least pending the results of the July Imperial Conference at Ottawa, and that all produce from Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandated Territories would also be exempt.

In the subsequent debate Sir Herbert Samuel, Home Secretary, voicing the views of Free Traders and of a minority of the Cabinet who differed on the tariff issue from the majority of their colleagues, criticised Mr. Chamberlain's speech vigorously and in detail. As an alternative he advocated the forma-, tion of an Industrial Commission to frame re-organisation schemes, pending which he was prepared to give a measure of protection on the lines conferred by the Dyestuffs Act. Except for the general tariff, he supported the Government's agricultural policy. While prepared to accept protection as a means to re-organisa-tidn, he would'reject it as an end in itself.

The Government's.proposals were favourably received by their supporters. .--■..