NO PLEDGE BROKEN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 358, 20 October 1932, Page 5

NO PLEDGE BROKEN

(Press. Assn.-

MR. MacDONALD'S REPLY

— By Telegraph— Copyrielit').

Rec. Oct. 19, 7.0 p.m. London, Oct. 19. j Mr. Ranisay MacDonald, replyingJ to the debate, said that no single pledge given by any responsible mem-

ber of the Government during the general election had been broken by the Ottawa agreement. "There were definite references to the possibility of the tariff in the National Government election addresses, ai>d after that warning," he said, "Sir Herbert Samuel accepted our support." "Delegates went to Ottawa charged with the duty of coming to an agreement with the Dominions and not letting the conference brealc down. All that we have done is to put up the stiffest fight possible in order that the tariffs should be as advantageous as possible to this country." j Mr. MacDonald added that as far as Sir Herbert Samuel's constitutional point was coneerned, what would have been the use of going to the Dominions saying for example, "We would like to develop your fruit trade, we guarantee you six months' continuous duties." "It would have been a farce," he said, "If we had put our hands to this sort of legislation. We must do it in such a way that the effects wanted could be realised." He personally was prepared to change the method to-morrow as time had proved eertain cherished constitutional practices were out of date. The delegates at Ottawa had come to an agreement which would undoubtedly expand trade throughout the Empire'. He appealed to the House to carry out these agreements in the most generous spirit, and he appeal- | ed to the Dominions to show the same spirit in applying the agreements to their own position. The debate was adjourned.