HOME RULE AND TARIFF REFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 140, 12 June 1912, Page 4

HOME RULE AND TARIFF REFORM.

The report of the Commission sot up to iii-juire into the economic aspects ■>■ tlie Home Rule Bill will probably conic as v severe shock to a good many LiberaJs who were prepared to follow Mr. Asquith'a lead but who happened to be Free Traders. Indeed, this suggestion that Home Rule f-or Ireland may necessitate some sort of interference with the traditional principles and practice of Cobdcnism is from the standpoint of the orthodox Free Trader startling enough to cause a veritable panic among the Nationalists and their allies. On the other hand, as the L'nionists have already adopted Tariff Reform as one of their principal '"planks," this report may have the effect of reconciling some few of them to the prospect of Home Rule. But it is far more likely lo strengthen the opinion already strongly held in the ranks of the Unionist party that it should be possible for them to make terms with the Nationalists, and "dish" the Liberals by offering Mr. liedmond and his followers a more attractive variety of Home Rule than Mr. Asquith's Bill would provide. It is quite conceivable that the prospect of securing Ta-riff Reform through Homo Rule may make a great deal of difference to ' the intentions of both political parties so far as Ireland is concerned. But. in any case. Imperialist advocates of Preferential Trade will note with a-pproval that the tide of events is moving steadily against Cobdenism, and that the stars in their courses seem to be fighting on the side o£ the reform ya England's fis>al policy which the Unionists so vigorously advocate.