ABSTRACT
Mr Bonar Law’s pledge, given a year ago, was that there should be no fundamental change in the fiscal arrangements of the country. That pledge binds me, and in this Parliament there will be no fundamental change, and I take those words strictly. I am not a man to play with a pledge Now from what I have said I think you will realize that to me, at least, this unemployment problem is the most crucial problem of our country. I regard it as such. I can fight it. I am willing to fight it. I cannot fight it without weapons. I have for myself come to the conclusion that—owing to the conditions that exist today in the world, having regard to the economic environment, having regard to the situation of our country—if we go pottering along as we are we shall have grave unemployment with us to the end of time. And I have come to the conclusion myself that the only way of fighting this subject is by protecting the home market (loud and continued cheering). I am not a clever man. I know nothing of political tactics, but I will say this: having come to that conclusion myself, I felt the only honest and right thing as a leader of a democratic party was to tell them at the first opportunity I had, what I thought, and submit it to their judgements (cheers).
