BRITISH TARIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1932, Page 5

BRITISH TARIFF

IMPORT DUTIES BILL. HASTE TO LAND CARGOES. (United Press Association—By Electric l'ciegrapn.—Copyright.) LONDON, February 26. If th? Import Duties Bill receives Royal assent on Monday, the duties will be changeable after five o’clock on Monday afternoon. There has been a heavy rush of foreign imports during the last few days. The .'pert \>f London's wharves are crjudcd. Wharf labourers at many 1 ports have been working night and j day. Denmark and Holland are send-1 i,ng a record quantity of condensed milk.

Every available ship is being used to land German potatoes. 'Manchester, this week, received twenty thousand tons of general cargoes above the normal. Ships in everysea within possibility of reaching ports ov (Monday have been ordered to make full speed to Britain and land their cargoes, at the first available port, if unable to reach their normal destination. Ship-owners are taking out insurances and are paying premiums up to half the duties leviable thereon. BRITAIN CENTRAL FIGURE.

GREAT ECONOMIC FEDERATION. LONDON, February 26. In 'the House of Commons, Major Attlee moved a new clause in the lm. port Duties Bill to provide that duties would be withdrawn from any industry failing to reorganise itself in accordance with the Board of Trade’s requirements. This was rejected by 356 votes to 46. Mr Neville Chamberlain replying declared that the emptiness of the Labour benches throughout the debate, showed that whatever the Labourites said, they were sanguine in their hope that the Bill would remove the. whole subject from the field of controversy. The British worker protectionist at heart, recognised that the only chance of maintaining the .standard of life, was by the same protection a s other nations enjoyed. . Future historians would mark the passage of the BUI as Britain's beginning of a new career, hand-in-hand with her own possessions and sister countries. Within the Empire she would become the central figure of a great economic federation, wide and strong enough 'to withstand any checks her fortunes might receive in the future. The Bill passed the third reading by 442 votes to 62, amidst wild Conservative cheering.

Mr Neville Chamberlain was given an ovation as lie re-entered the chamber. TO .'RELIEVE THE 'DEBT; VOLUNTARY OUTS MADE, LONDON, February 25. The CbnnceLor >of the Exchequer, Mr Chamberlain, stated in the House of Commons 'that since August 23rd last, cash and Government certificates to th? value of over £IOO,OOO had been voluntarily given to relieve the National debt. In addition, many people had surrendered claims of pensions or other sums due to them from public funds.

' MOTOR INDUSTRY. LONDON, February 26. The Dominions Secretary, Mr J. H. Thomas, to-day received a deputation of British Motor Manufacturers who submitted views regarding means whereby their industry might be helped by the Ottawa Imperial Conference. THE AUSTRALIAN CHANGES. EMPIRE TRADE STIMULUS. (United Press Association—Bv Electric Telegraph.—-Copyright.) (Received this day at 8 n.m.) LONDON, Feb. 26. The “Times” says that Australian j tariff changes give solid ground for j hoping that the Ottawa Conference will reach agreements, effective in the* promotion of trade between Empire countries.

The reductions announced, in many cases, are substantial enough to make British preference an effective stimulus to inter-Empire, trade, and the door is onen to a wide application of the principle of co-operation between British and Dominion industries.

THE GOVERMENT OPPOSITION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.-—Copyright.) 'Received this day at P. 25 a.m) LONDON, February 26. Surprise is expressed, in the lobby at the small muster of Labourite!; against the Tariff Bill, there being only about thirty-eight. It is estimated that twenty-three Sam indites, including the Home Secretary, voted against the Government. The “Morning Post” says: “Who could have foreseen n year, even six months ago, that we should travel so far, and s** soonf [lncredible as it must seem there has been no effective resistance.