BRITISH CABINET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 February 1932, Page 7

BRITISH CABINET

STATEMENT'ey PREMIER. PROBLEMS FACED IN UNISON. REPARATIONS AND TARIFF POLICY. (United Press Association.—By Electrio Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 29. Speaking in his constituency for the first time since the general election, the Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, referred to the Cabinet. He declared that the world was still creaking add cracking with problems producing a position transcending party interests. “Differ as we may, ’ he said, “Cabinet to-day is more determined than ever to face national problems as a united body.” Replying to criticism that the Government did not possess a reparations policy, Mr MacDonald declared that the Government had stuck to its policy right until the error was wiped off the hisjbory of Europe. “Britain’s policy is a return to economic sanity,” lie said. Mr MacDonald emphasised that ffie repayment of thirty millions by the Bank of England to the United States and France on January 25 was a greattriumph. The condition of sterling showed that the world believed in Britain’s honesty. “Tariffs must not raise the cost of living or create tariff walls,” he added. “On the contrary we must bring the walls down. Moreover, tariffs must not increase the cost of production, so hampering exports, or induce inefficiency.” TARIFF BILL APPROVED, MEETING OF - MINISTERS. LONDON, Jan. 30. Mr Stanley Baldwin, in the absence of Mr Ramsay MacDonald, presided at a meeting of the Cabinet at which the general terms of the Tariff Bill were approved. Viscount Snowden was absent. Sir Herbert Samuel, Sir Archibald Sinclair, and Sir Donald Maclean, who were present, did not participate in the discussion. Addressing the Empire Industries Association, Mr Baldwin said there had been delay owing to the necessity of permitting the investigation agreed upon when the Liberals joined the National Government. They were now at the point a Conservative Government would have reached three months earlier, otherwise the Government was proceeding along the lines that nad been adopted by the Conservatives.