BRITISH TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 June 1927, Page 2

BRITISH TRADE.

( Australian «fc N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 10. In the House of Lords Viscount Elikank moved a motion urging the Government to reconsider the abolition of the Overseas Trade Department, expressing the opinion that the majority of foreign traders favoured the retention of this most useful Department, costing oivfcr decimal one per cent of their oversea trade.

Baron Arnold, supporting the motion, said that the armaments expenditure was the only place for real economies.

Lord Salisbury said the Government fully realised the usefulness of the Department, but it must economise, and could not recede from the Budget policy. Lord Beauchamp, supporting the Government said the value of the Department would be increased, not decreased. by its amalgamation with the Board of Trade. The motion was withdrawn.

Lord Burnham strongly appealed to the Government to give a decided lead to the industrialists in favour of an extension of the Whitley Industrial Council. It was very significant, he said, that the trades in which the most bitter and most prolonged dispfltes existed were without Whitley machinery, which maintained harmony in fifty-six industries. Lord Cecil said the Government recognised these Councils were a very successful agency for improving industrial relations. No system of co-oper-ation succeeded without willingness on the part of both sides. To attempt to enforce co-operation legislatively would be more harmful than good.

Lord Arnold said Labour would not accept Sir A. Steel Maitland’s Conciliation Committee. which was a mockery in view of the Trades Disputes Rill. The debate was adjourned.