BRITISH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1931, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

SLUMP IN EXPORTS. OF BRITISH INVESTMENTS ABROAD. (United Press Association—By Ulectru telegraph—Oopyrigb *•). LONDON, August 31. A feature of the present economic situation is that there is a marked decline in Britain’s invisib.e exports, (Which were 13/ millions sterling in 1929, and which shrank to 29 millions in 1930. Now these invisible exports are practically non-existent, owing to the iiiider-employiiieiit of British snipping and to decline or the interest of such investments as the South American railways. LABOUR PROTESTS. LONDON, August 31. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr Henderson, is now organising Labour protests throughout the country. A deluge of resolutions is already beginning denouncing the National Government. SACRIFICES FOR THE POOR. LONDON, August 30. Mr MacDonald declined to make any comment regarding his expulsion from Senham constituency, beyond saying that ho hat} sent a letter to the executive, expressing himself optimistic regarding the outcome of next week’s meetings. He said that the trades union element did not yet appreciate the moral force of the appeal in the hour of the connrty’s need. “I have to give up many things, but I mean to carry out this task to the end. I have received a thousand letters signi.ying willingness to accept any sacrifice. The majority are those of unemployed or ones receiving the old age pensions, •who are willing to accept a cut.” SEAHAM LABOURITES. PREMIER WILL IGNORE THEM. LONDON, August 30. There is not the least likelihood oi Mr MacDonald’s immediate resignation from til© House of Commons owing to the action of a Seaham Socialist executive, which consists of eleven men and five married women, of whom four are miners’ wives, while the fifth woman is the wife of a school oaretaker. Two of the men on the Executive are school teachers. One is a joiner. The others are colliery workers. PREMIER’S COUNTER. LONDON, August 31. Mr Ramsay MacDonald stated plain truths in his Seaham letter. He declares: '“The Leader of organised Labour, by appealing to prejudice and class feeling, 1 and raising the bogey of a financial conspiracy, is busily sowing seeds which, if they grow, will assuredly produce a calamity from whicl] we are merely reprieved long enough to enable us to escape triumph., antly. We aro not through the crisis. We have only taken the first steps. Trade unionists must be made aware of the perils to which the policy of the Trades Union Congress "exposes the nation.” , LABOUR’S TASK. LONDON, August 31. Mr Wedgworth Bonn (exSecretary for India)' addressing the executive of the Aberdeen Trades Council, urged none to doubt th e sincerity and courage of Messrs MacDonald and Snowden. He staid that the late Cabinet was faced with the most criticial financial situation. .Lia hour’s duty was unitedly to formulate a policy imbued with a sense of responsibility, TARIFF FOR BRITAIN. LABOUR SUPPORT GROWING. LONDON, August 31. "The Time®” says: The General Council is inviting the Trade Union Congress to decide the tariff issue. The section of the Council which favours a tariff is convinced' that if the tariff proposals are presented as a possible means of averting wage and dole cuts, the traditional opposition of the Congress to protection could be overcome.