18 OCTOBER 1930, Page 2

Mr. Baldwin's second statement, published in the papers of Thursday,

is a whole Conservative programme. It avoids any phrase about the taxation of food, but it clearly implies the necessity of such taxation where other means of Imperial economic union are inadequate. The main points in the programme are national economy, reduction of ta \at ion, reform of Unemployment Insurance, an emergency tariff for shielding the producer till a more scientific tariff can be framed, guaranteed prices for wheat, a tax on foreign malting barley, prevention of dumping and a definite market for home and Empire wheat. Mr. Baldwin emphasizes the importance of the Quota system and, for the rest, makes it quite plain that the pledges of a Referendum and a second General Election have been superseded by events.