LATEST CABLE NEWS BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1925, Page 2

LATEST CABLE NEWS

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

TARIFF DEBATE. [Reuters Telegrams.j LONDON February 16. In the House of Commons, the debate on tbo Government’s policy for the safeguarding of industries, was initiated by Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Leader of the Opposition, he moving the Labour amendment- a.s -already cabled. He accused the Government of deliberately depriving the House of Commons of the right to discuss the details of its proposals. Mr MacDonald said that o Labour did net believe- taat free trade was itself able to solve the social problem, but Labour was convinced that with a policy of internal construction, tree trade was preferable to tariff reform, The Government wanted to erect a tariff against- sweated goods, and yet- they refused to help to eliminate sweated goods by carrying on the Washington 1-labour Convention, Mr Baldwin, in. replying said tbo Government intended carrying out in the letter, and in the spirit, its election pledge to safeguard industries and not to introduce protection. When protection came to England it would not come by the back door, although it might come from 1-abour. He denied that there was an important departure in these proposals from the methods of taxation. He claimed the Government's procedure (under which inquiries would he held, the result of which would he referred for decision to the Cabinet would save the time of Parliament and would re-establish the constitutional position of Parliament in matters of taxation, The ultimate decision would rest with Parliament, "hen any particular duty came up in the Finance Bill, Mr Lloyd George complained of the vagueness of the Government’s proposals, which were a serious departure. He cited figures purporting to prove that no ease existed for the erecting of a fresh element of international uncertainty at a time when trade was slowly recovering. Mr Lloyd George mentioned that their imports of wool had increased by five millions sterling since pre-war days. Their exports had also increased, A feature of the debate was tbo speech of Dr, Haden Guest (Labour Member for Southwark North), who is the chairman of the Labour Commonwealth group. Dr. Guest announced his intention to vote with the Government. but lie expressed regret at the absence of any alternative proposals in Mr MacDonald’s motion.: He deprecated what apparently was, lie said a new Labour policy, namely, Liberalism tinged pink and he declared that there were alternatives to the safeguarding of industries. For example. there was a vigorous policy of developing the resources' erf the Empire and paying more attention to the standard of living of the workers in the different industries, but he supported the provision of safeguards, if that furnished the only alternative to doing nothing.

Sir Cunlifl'e Lister, the President of the Board of Trade, replying to the debate, sail that before an industry could obtain an inquiry under this measure, it had to know not only that in some countries wages were lower, hut also that the competition therefrom was exceptional and the imports abnormal. There was no reason to suppose that a' certain number of duties would necessarily load to a general tariff. Every single duty to ho proposed would he under the direct control of the House of Commons from start to finish, by the full procedure of a Finance Bill. The Minister pointed out that in 192-1 Britain’s exports of maimlacture.s were 25 per cent, less than in 1913. while her imports were four per cent, greater. Mr MacDonald's motion was rejected hv 333 votes to 140.

A FUG UA I! 1)1 NG INDUSTKTES LONDON. February 17,

Tlie "Daily Telegraph,” commenting on the safeguarding of industries debate, says: “'Flic Government’s new plan for safeguarding industries is much less exposed to attack than the. last plan. Full control of taxation is new restored to the Commons, instead of being partly delegated to the Board of Trade. Mr Baldwin stated that he intended to keep liis election pledges, and lie argued that the safeguarding was one thing, and protection by general tariff another. Mr MacDonald’s speech showed that he was i.liable to make up liis mind whether the scheme was humbug or a farce, and one not meant to work, except in a few small industries. Ho suggested that if this sort ol legislation were passed, we should have the Dominions safeguarding their industries on account -of the alleged sweated wag s paid by the British staple trades. Mr Dalton, a Labourite, said lie would vote for the resolution without hesitation. Free trade, lie said, was not a policy, but the absence of a policy. Before many years the Labour would have swept away this tin pot tariff and would he able to go forward to a positive policy, based on the developemnts of international labour standards, which would safeguard the standards of life of every section of the population.