SPIRIT CONDEMNED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 209, 28 April 1932, Page 5

SPIRIT CONDEMNED

(Press. Assn.-

wrong basis of approach to empire economic . * conference canadian leader's warning

— By Tolegraph — Copyrlght).

Rec. April 27, 7.0 p.m. OTTAWA, Tuesday. "Don't place Empire relations on the dollars and cents basis," the Government was advised in the House of Commons to-day by the Liberal leader, Mr. W. L. McKenzie King. He went on to say that the Empire Economic Conference would end in disrupt'on and failure if the spirit of bargaining and national selfishness permeated the discussions. Defending his action in London in 1930, and declaring that STr Wilfred Laurier in 1902 set a precedent for bargaining at Imperial conferences, the Prime Minister, Mr, R. B. Bennett, told the House of Commons tonight in the Budget debate that he followed in the footsteps of Sir Wilfred Laurier, who 28 years before had imposed trade conditions on Great Britain at a similar gathering of Exn--pire representatives. He defended the high tariff policy of his Government as being necessary under the present conditions of the country. Cannot Lower Barriers Canada, in the light of world-wide , depression, could not afford to set an example to all Christendoni and let down its tariff barriers and become s the dumping ground for the world, he said.

Ihe Liberal Leader, Mr. McKenzie .. King, taking part in the Budget des bate said inf ormation had' come to him that representatives of Canada's manufacturers' associations and deled gates of certain British industries had .( been holding back trade between this country and Great Britain in anticipation of the Economic Conference. s Criticising the Government for re- ^ fusing to divulge the conference terms and name the committees looking after arrangements, Mr. McKen1C zie King aslced how they could exr( pect the Opposition to eo-operate if the information were refused, and even the views of the Ministry denied '11 them. fr n' "No More Humbug" "There must be no more humbug at this Conference," declared Mr. McKenzie King, referring to the aftermath of the 1930 Conference, in which U Mr. J. T. Thomas had figured. "Yet," Mr King proeeeded, "the Canadian Government, on the eve of the gathering has raised its tariff against Great Britain by increasing the ex- , t cise tax on all imports." ! ' This action he contrasted with Ln! Great Britain's gesture exempting Canada and all other Dominions from the tariff s reeently established. 111 "On the one hand," said Mr. King, "there is bargaining, and on the ' ^ other voluntary concessions." t i Thewopinion was expressed by Mr. King that the Canadian Government l had "heard from Great Bfitain that r negotiations for a new Empire com|el mercial basis would not be entertain- | ed while Canada continued to manipul * . ate her tariff over-night by Orders-in-1111 Council." f The Prime Minister said that he iT1 had gone to London believing that s his proposals would be reeeived exi actly as they were and on their merits. The people of Great Britain | had settled that, and as soon as they \ had settled the matter he had invited P the Economic Conference to Ottawa. I 't would meet on July 21, and there I fore the purpose he had in mind and i the one ambition he hoped to realise p ,vas about to be realised. An amendment of the Budget movU ;d by Mr. Robert Gardiner (United P ?armers Party, Alberta) calling for P ;he nationalisation of the Canadian ; inancial system, the stabilisation of p he dollar, the abolition of the major jp lortion of the debt of the Dominion . 1 ncurred during the war and thereP: ifter, and the management of the : :redit and currency to mainatin a jyt table price level in Canada, was de1 eated by 177 votes to 17 votes.