AN EBBING TIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1930, Page 7

AN EBBING TIDE

Some thirty or forty members of the House of Lords have formed an “Empire Economic Group,” with the object of promoting “the economic unity of the Empire.” Among the members are Lord Allenby, Earl Beatty and Viscount Jellicoe, and the chairman is Lord Melehett, so that the movement toward Imperial unity along economic lines is no longer the monopoly of Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere. As any possible attempt to help on Imperial unity by economic means must involve some surrender of Free Trade traditions and principles, the future of this organisation should be watched with attention. * Meantime it is interesting to notice the many indications which suggest that the Cobdenite floodtide which submerged Britain so completely eighty years ago is now definitely on the ebb. A striking proof of this fact is to be found in the results of a ballot recently taken by members of the -Manchester Chamber of Commerce on the question of fiscal policy. There are 4000 members, over 2300 voted, and there was approximately a majority of three to one against Free Trade. Evidently, says Mr Wickham Steed the day when Manchester business men could be looked upon as unalterably devoted to the cause of Free Trade is past, and gone for ov’C”