OFFICIAL WIRELESS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1929, Page 6

OFFICIAL WIRELESS

1 -j T „ TARIFF HOLIDAY. MR GRAHAM-’S VIEWS. (British Official Wireless.) ■ J RUGBY, Sept. 13.. Mr William Graham, President of the Board of Trade, in an address at Oxford yesterday, said the World Economic Conference of 1927 had definitely recommended freer trade and the progressive reduction of tariff barriers, hut for various reasons the intervening two years had been unproductive of results. At this stage an economic United States of Europe was probably mainly an ideal, hut' there might be mucli practical progress if European countries and others agreed, for two years at least, not to raise existing tariffs, and bend their energies to such an examination of the* problem as might bring a reduction either in specific commodities or in groups of commodities in the near future. Side by side with such an enquiry ran proposals to secure an international agreement in hours, wages, and working conditions in commodities like coalj iron, steel. Europe was app. eciating. that it would be better to organise ran t-et-s in terms of industrial efficiency and common fair play. This would he materially- assisted by the best use of the existing resources within individual countries.

BRITISH COAL INDUSTRY. * RUGBY, Sept. 14. In view of the progress made by the coal-owners, with the preparation of a scheme for the National control of output and selling prices, the newspapers state the Gvernment is confident that the owners’ final decision will bo in their hands by October 15th. In that event, legislation will be introduced into the House of Commons early in November dealing with miners’ hours, and granting the Government compulsory powers over collieries, which will not fall in with the schemes of output and selling price control, which are agreed to by the majority of collieries in the area. The Government is also anxious to secure that any improvement in the prosperity of the industry is reflected in the miners’ conditions of service.

It is reported that the advisability of including in the Bill provision for me acquisition of mining royalties, and an improved system for miners, is under consideration.

FLIGHT TO INDIA. RUGBY, Sept. 14. The trials of the new British airships are awaited with keen interest. The shed trials of both the State-built airship, RlOl and the privately constructed vessel RIOO are well advanced and are still proceeding. Flying trials will he carried out equally thoroughly. It is stated that RlOl will he tested in flight at Home for about three months, and if successful