ENGLAND HANDICAPPED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 996, 12 June 1930, Page 11

ENGLAND HANDICAPPED

EMPIRE TRADE CAMPAIGN AND WAR DEBT “MAGNIFICENT IDEA. BUT . . A rather pessimistic view on conditions in England was given this morning by Mr AY. R. G. Emerson, who arrived on the Rangitane to take up his residence in New Zealand. He expre*ssed the opinion that England, saddled with a huge war deb*, will take many years to throw off that enormous handicap. * The abuse of the dole is encouraging laziness ar.d idleness and is in itself demoralising.” said Mr. Emerson. Speaking of the Empire trade campaign which is now being pursued in England, Mr. Emerson said that an idea of such magnitude took many years to impress itself on the general public. Similar attempts had been made in the past to organise such a campaign, but. Mr. Emerson pointed out, Chamberlain and Balfour in their day called it “reciprocity.” “For such a proposal to take effect, there must be a tax on foreign goods.’* he continued. “The so-called Free Traders then started their parrot cry of A our food will cost you more,’ and the people immediately became frightened. HELP FOR FARMER “If the Empire trade proposals a:e adopted we will get a chance to increase our markets, which means that those at Home will be protected. Above all it will help the English farmer, with the result that food will not cod more. “I do not think that the Empire is tightly woven together—the bonds are gossamer. Empire trade is a magnificent idea but, like so many reforms, it will takei a very long time- to operate properly.” Mr. Emerson mentioned that a number of industries in England were slowly recovering, but many of the markets were still closed. All the saleguarded industries had prospered exceedingly, but recently it was stated that the safeguarding duties were to be removed. “As a result of this.” he continued, “Germany and France arc preparing to dump huge quantities of goods into England with the result that thousands of people will be thrown out of work.” Captain Montague Polley, who also arrived on the Rangitane, stated that the people in England must put every effort into industry. Many boys today would rather go on the dole than go to work.