UNIONIST DIFFERENCES

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 307, 24 December 1912, Page 5

UNIONIST DIFFERENCES

ON TARIFF REFORM.

LANCASHIRE'S ATTITUDE.

AN ALARMING UNCERTAINTY.

LONDON, December 23. A conference of 300 delegates from the Lancashire Unionists' Association ™ held on Saturday under the presidency of Cord Derby.

The party differences in regard to the Tariff Reform question were discussed with closed doors. The conference then adjourned until January 11. Lord Derby states that the differences can be adjusted. Tin- "Clasgow Herald" (Unionist) says that if an Imperial Conference express'a wish that preference should be granted in some form other than by means of food taxes, a I nionist Government would seek another way. Most Unionists, it remarks, would prefer that.

The "'lrish Times"' I Unionist) says that Lord Lansdowne and Mr Bonar Cawhave decreed that the next general election shall be fought on the question of Tariff Reform, and not on that of Home Rule. The leaders, the paper says, have caused an awkward change in the electoral outlook, and have changed a certainty into a very alarming uncertainty.

INDIA AND FREE TRADE. LONDON". December 23. Lord Crewe I Secretary of State for Indiaj. in replying to Mr Bonar Law. states that the manufacturers of the Dominions will have power to protect themselves against the Motherland's manufacturers, whereas the Indian manufacturers will lack the power to secure Home markets.

The Indian manufacturers, he says, will defend themselves, but if Mr Bonar Law begins to negotiate lie will find that India, whilst eager for international Free Trade, will certainly stipulate for the same privileges as the self-governing colonies.