MR STANLEY BALDWIN

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1930, Page 5

MR STANLEY BALDWIN

WANT FOOD TAXED

[United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. J

LONDON, February 5

The Committee of the Empire Crusade, at a special meeting, unanimously resolved, with regret, that it cannot regard Mr' Baldwin’s declaration of policy as affording an adequate solution to the present industrial and agricultural problems of the country, and that it is convinced that new markets are essential. The British Government should have complete fiscal freedom to negotiate with the Dominions and with India, including the power to impose any necessary duties on both raw materials and foodstuffs not produced in the Empire.

TOR PRESS COMMENTS

LONDON, February fi

Practically only two leading journals seize upon the new idea embodied in Mr Baldwin’s speech. Tlie rest adopt the traditional “Protection verus Free Trade” attitude. The Daily News regards inr Baldwin’s inter-im-perial arrangements under which the markets of the Empire would, apparently, be divided upon mutually agreed terms between the industrialists here and in the Dominions —both equally protected against foreign competition, by safeguarding—as “the most subtle, and probably the most practicable form in which imperial protection has yet been advocated.” The paper is of the opinion that the voice is Air Baldwin’s and the brain probably is Lord Melehett’s. Both the Daily News and Daily Telegraph says that amplification and explanations are needed before a decided opinion is able to be expressed upon this plan, but the latter paper adds that, so far as practicable it is manifestly desirable. It says it is obviously the outcome of the Rationalisation Movement and is an ingenious attempt to combine with imperial co-operatinn. and imperial preference an interlocking, arrangement for the production and sale of imperial goods. This feature of the Unionists programme must depend primarily on the favour shown thereto bv the leading industrialists here and in the Dominion.