BRITISH TARIFF

Hokitika Guardian, 25 June 1932, Page 5

BRITISH TARIFF

NOW ON TRIAL -W MR BALDWIN’S COMMENTS. s~ (British Official T Tireless.) RUGBY, June 23. Mr Baldwin, surveying Britain’s economic position during the debate on the motion of censure in the Commons, said the tariff system, adopted to' correct the advers e baiance of trade, was on its trial. It would be two or three years before, they knew whether it fulfilled hopes or not. Although the figures for April and May were not yet completely worked out, there were indications that the reduction in the unfavourable balance was both in the increase in the volume of exports and a decrease in imports, particularly the latter. In five month, the statistics, representing raw materials, were practically stationary, whereas the value of imported manufactured articles was down by £32,000,000. j

Mr Baldwin deplored the woDld-wide restrictions on trade, which were imposed by countries solely owing to their domestic conditions. They were not retaliating. No fewer than thirty foreign countries had some kind of ■exchange restriction. These restrictions wer« telling probably Wore against the recovery of trade, even than tariff®, which throughout the world had been increased. In Belgium, Poland, Netherlands, Portugal, France, and some British Dominions tariffs had been raised until they reached a height it was almost impossible to climb. It wr/i extremely difficult to see how this position was to be broken. Mr Baldwin said the Lausanne Conference naturally afforded some hopes, and he was certain that the cancedaition of all reparations and war debts in (Europe was an essential step towards giving the countries more confidence, and helping them to get on with their business. Dcrpite world impoverishment, it was some encouragement to Britain that, through a difficult period she was holding on to her export trade. As to the home trade, the actual volume of production had slightly increased, yet there had been an increase in unemployment figures, probably due to the appalling conditions of the export coal trade, and to the fact that many industries were getting! greater production with fewer men at, work. Britain, however, wag facing j the blizzard better than any other country.

In regard to unemployment, ddii.’e not wishing to minimife their hardship, relatively speaking, British people were (better off than people in ally other country. The Government would do What it t'tnild, ahd enter into conferences to consider anything .that might be arranged between countries, but in th e meantime the world had to carry cm, One of the great objects of the Ottawa Conference was to help to break down the harriers of trade, When they returned from Ottawa, they would gee what could b e done in that direction with other countries; These barriers had to be broken down and removed.

tariff reciprocity,

VANCOUVER, June 23

The Board of Trade is advised by the Finance Department that- Germany announces the super-tariff ha.s been dropped agairt't 'Canadian (goods for six months, in the hope of the negotiation of a trade treaty. The Canadian Manufacturers’ Association pledges full .support for Empire trade at the conference.