The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1932. BRITAIN’S FISCAL POLICY.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, MAY 28, 1932. BRITAIN’S FISCAL POLICY.

Ix the course of an address to his constituents recently at Worcester Mr Stanley Baldwin referred to Britain’s new iiscal pujcy. Some play hud oeen made by thoge who disapprove of the changes by sayi'ng that we have imposed a permanent system of Protection on the country. Nothing is permanent except the folly- of mankind. The fiscal system is going to be judged on its merits a.one. I rejoice that we are now out of the region of academic discussion, We are going to put to the proof whether the fiscal system upon which we are entering is going to do that good to the country, or a portion of it, which we haye believed it would _do-, If it does do good the system will continue so long as it does, If it fails the system will be changed, and that is the common sense of the matter. Our opponents deny that we sha-.l lie successful m effecting anything with nations which have had tariffs for many years. I think they are wrong. I hopfe and believe that in time a good deal will be done. Europe is beginning to lealise that fiscal units are too small to enable smaller nations to live and to strive under a high protective system. It is because that belief is slowly permeating the nations of Europe that there has arisen the desire to form some land of economic federation among the States bordering on the Danube. The whole tendency, at least in men’s minds, is to the larger economic unit. That is the natural process of evolution, and it is to help that process that we are going to Ottawa in July. I hope that that Conference wild lay the foundation of much closer economic union than exists to-day. We are really at the cross-roads in our Imperial fiscal re’ations. AVe are bound either to go forward on the road that leads to closer economic union or we are bound to take another road. Never has a Conference been held in which the opportunities are greater, but in which, if those opportunities should not be. taken, the course of events may lead us all far apart. The natural destiny of our country in economic union with our own flesh and blood. If that cannot be accomp'lshed it may well be we shall be driven to look towards Europe. It may well be with the parts of the Empire that if they do not. movte to that closer union among themselves their economic interests may lead them in half a century far away from those who are now their brothers. If we nil realise when we meet in July where the path of co operation is and the path of want of co-operation I am perfectly certain that whether propwesß he great or small it will be progress on the only lines that can keep together the peoples of the Empire in the years that lie before us.