TARIFF QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1932, Page 5

TARIFF QUESTION

NEW BRITISH POLICY

LIBERALS SHOW HOSTILITY. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, April 27. In the Commons the Budget caused an interesting Liberal revolt Against the Government upon the issue whether excessive power was given to the Import Dufies Advisory Committee, when it was permitted to authorise the Treasury to remove goods from the free list and make them liable to duty. The question whether additional food (taxes could' be imposed was the chief point of the discussion, I ocvernl :Li Lera Is ■ 'expressing the opin-j ion that the 'Commons was only able to .say ditto to the decisions of the committee, when these had been approved by the Treasury.

On a division oil a Labour amendment, sovency-two voted against the Government, including Sir H. ,Samuel, Sir D. Mac-Loart, the Liberal whips, and jn addition several Sirnonitess

The Commons, bv 305 votes to 72, gave, the Advisory Committee power to recommend duties on foreign meat and wheat. The meat and -wheat vote was taken on Mr AEtlee’s amendment to maintain wheat and meat permanently on the free list- of imports. The resolution was carried by 233 to 56 votes

It was announced jn the Commons that the Government share the view of the Impor.: Duties Advisory Committee that duties imposed by the recent order -should not in general, be reduced in the next twelve months.

Major Colville, on reply to a question added: ‘‘ln the general interests of the United Kingdom trade, however, some modification may be found expedient, even within that period if it should prove possible to secure in return important reductions -in foreign duties, which promise substantial advantages to our export trade.’’ - Sir Philip G'unliffe-Li.Cer said he was in constant touch with the varied trade interests and different groups in the colonies, and was in communication with all the Colonial Governors on the possibilities of the -extension of trade between the Dominions and the Co'on-

|\lr J, H. Thomas informed Mr Grenfell that It was not intended to hold the Imperial Sugar-cane Research Conference in 1932. Consideration was now being given to the allocation of funds to give effect to the recommendations of the last conference.

In reply to Ml 1 ilaxton, Mr Thomas said that the object of the Ottawa Conference, "’tie fully to examine the. tiieatis whereby inicr-lmperial trade will bp mainraiiied and extended. He hoped that one of the most valuable results would be an increase in employment throughout the Empire.

WOOL TEXTILES

LONDON,

April 27

Replying to the woo) textile manufacturers’ request that the duty imposed under the Abnormal Importations Act, should be maintained, the Imports Duties Advisory Committee

states it is not prepared at present to recommend any increase in the level of the protection now afforded the industry as a whole.

N.E.-CANADIAN TRADE. VICTORIA, April 27. “The treaty gives Canada a distinct: advantage over non-British countries,-' declared Premier Tolrnie. “It is a splendid thing to see we are becoming more Empire-minded in trade purchases, giving aid to sister Dominions, Canada will be richly rewarded for closer trade association with both New Zealand and Australia.” British Columbia business interests unanimously endorsed the treaty. The. lumbermen, fish-can tiers, and fruitgrowers are particularly pleased. The latter believe that they can capture the New Zealand apple and pear market.