SPEECH BY MR BALDWIN

Hokitika Guardian, 27 October 1923, Page 3

SPEECH BY MR BALDWIN

I NE.M Pl.t>Y.M EXT IN BRITAIN. UVritAUAN AND N.Z. C'.UII.K ASSOCIATION LONDON. October 2d. Mr Baldwin, speaking at Plymouth, said: "When it became po-sible to renew negotiations with Germany, the Prune Ministers of the Dominions wenon their wav to England, nc 1011, that on a matter of this great impoOame, it would be worth much 1o have their counsel, and that when we spoke Europe would know our vim-,, was not only the voice , I England, hut the voice of a united Empire (loud cheers). We felt that, after so many abortive conferences, the iiio-l desirable policy was that a. eoiiieleiiee should only lie pint, forward under conditions that would ensure success. \\ e call f nly get reparations from Germany out ol an enormously incivn-cd expoit l:ad(. There is a danger that the market in Britain may become the shock-absorber of Europe, and also the danger ol dumping into Britain ol accumulated stocks from the Ruhr, to the detriment of our manufacturers. I have no doubt Parliament will take steps to see that no trading of ilia- kind i- allowed. ■‘The vi-it of tlie Dominion P enders brings to mind the illimitabV le-ources i,i Hi.- Koipiro. That field most l.<-ulili-ed to the utmost of our endeavour. I have great hopes milch may result from tit,- work of th,. Economic Conference, wlm.-e conclusions will be examined t»y the Government, and later by the House of Commons. Uncmplcyment i- the most concise problem in this country. I can light it-. I am willing to light it. but I cannot fight it without’ weapons. V e have found -inee tiie war. that there i- hardly a uiunti’v of importance that has not

raised -it s tarilfs cud made it more difficult for ii- to sell, and ibis has- diminished our profits in competing, and We have to sidf.-r. with nothing with which to bargain. I have felt it only the rigid and Imo Hdng. as tinleader of a democratic patty, to t L the party at tile first opportunity viml [ thought, and submit it to then judgment.”

another view. LONDON, October 2b Afr Neville Chamberlain, at S-ii’s-bury, said: 'lf we are In deal adequately with unemployment next winter. it will he necessary that we ask a release from Air Rnimr Law’s ]. ledge, regard the situation with an ‘’fen I „dnd and take up the only weapon by a ■ signal for a. great autumn protect tom-.

campaign. The ■■Daily Express's” Plymouth correspondent 'says: "Mr Baldwin's reference to the protection of home markets brought the only tenll.v out'Hi-ii--lie cheer of the evening. Then i"lb>wed a sudden silence. Every one expected Air Baldwin to develop a tanlf -chelae, hut he switched on to nintlier .subject-, and left his hearers -o nito the words themselves. 1!w ltiipie.sion afterwards was that A r BiMwm while purposely vague. Ims 'custeil u signal for a grant autumn prod', ami campaign, related especially to ’->"e,u----ployment and designed to lead *.r a g- neral election on this issue. The -‘Daily Telegraph." edr. ' o b.'believes the groat majority : 1 the (■> servatve I’arty will eordia.lv his declaration. . , The ‘Morning Tost says. 1 Baldwin made a great decision. >•>" means to stand or tall by the protect British industries.

CANADIAN OPINION. OTTAWA. October -'>■ interest i- moused in ‘'ffiemi and political circles by the Jeelanition e* the British Premier that .atoius nmtectina the home market. Tie I- , mew-here i> that the tar.ili quesDm, is a mater for the British rooph and that Canada should not nuerle e in u \dvocates of protection c«ns d. ,:. vi ; a , lU . while low tariff siippoiters ,e inclined to regard it as a retn--ir r adc -ten and to pin their Ruth a the r.c-e that it may mean the defeat m ' M,- Baldwin, if he u ’ ! ' o,n>, ° upm it a< an issue.