COLONIAL PREFERENCE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15453, 4 December 1915, Page 14

COLONIAL PREFERENCE.

IMPORTANT COMMONS DEBATE. DOMINION IMPORTS T9 PAY.

(rnoii ocr own* correspondent.) LONDON, October 22. Clauso 12 of the new Financo Act, which imposes tho now import duties, was debated in tho House of Commons 011 Tuesday, when there was tho unusual spectacle of a Liberal Freetrader arguing for colonial preference. Sir W. Howell Da vies (Bristol, S., L.) moved an amendment to exempt from tho import <\utics articles coming from the Dominions. He thought that at a iimo when the Dominions had assumed heavy financial responsibilities in order to take a great part in tho war, it was unfair to imposo theso duties upon thorn. (Hear, hear.) Mr Ilcwins (U., Hereford) said that ono of tho main objects which Germany hoped to achieve by tho war was that of getting bacl: tho power of exploiting the British Dominions which sho got under tho treaty of 1865, and used until that treaty was denounced by Lord Salisbury. For years tho Dominions had asked for a preference from this country if and when we imposed import duties. Hero, at last, was tho chance of gratifying their desires. For that reason ho supported the resolution. and ho supported it also becauso, as an Englishman. 110 wished to exterminate German financial influcnco in the British Empire for ever. (Hear,

hear.) Sir J. Tudor "Walters (Sheffield Brightside, L.) supported tho amendment. As the Chancellor cf tho Exchequer had frequently said, tho object cf tho import duties was not to raise revenue, but to readjust our foreign exchanges, and the amendment would do 110 more than ptfrmit tho importation from the Dominions frco of duty of jew's-harps and mouth-organs. (Laughter.; Mr Montagu (Financial Secrctarv to tho Treasury) said ho suspected tho real | object of tho amendment was to "pull | tho leg" of the Tariif Reformers. [-(Laughter.) Tho amendment was wholly opposed to tho principle of the taxes, and would arouse expectations which it was not intended to arouse, and would destroy tho object for which tho taxes were Imposed. If tho amendment wore accepted it would enccurago people to import motor-cars so long as they did not como from foreign countries. As the tax was to bo regarded as a temporary and simple expedient for obtaining some revenue and reducing imports, ho hoped tho committee would reject the invitation to cmbodv in it th-3 elaborate principles of colonial preference. Sir Alfred" Mond (L.. Swansea) said that the Government having embarked upon a tariff, could not get away from colonial preference and all tho-other complications attaching to it. Mr Outhwato (L., Hanley) supported tho amendment. Mr Peto (U.) was willing to accept tho taxes as thov wero proposed, and refused to bo led into controversies on Imperial preference. Strong protests were made by Mr T. Taylor (Lancashire, Radcliffe. L.) and Mr Lough, who announced that, while thev greatly objected to tho proposed duties. they should vote for tho amendment on patriotic grounds. Mr Hunt (Shropshire. Ludlow. IT.) said there was apparently no consistency on either side. (Laughter.) No party which had advocated colonial preference could consistently vote against this amendment. Mr Duke (C.. Exeter) protested 1

. strongly against tho Government being embarrassed by such discussions at the present time. Mr Holt (L., Hexham) intimated that ho should vote for tho amendment. Sir I?-. "Williams (U., Dorset, W.) pointed out that tho new import duties had been introduced solely for tho purpose of raising revonuo during the war, and lie appealed to hon. members to drop the discussion of con-* trovnrsial subjects, which was lowering Iho Houso of Commons in tho eyes of tho country, and showing our enemies and Allies alike that wo wero divided. Ho hoped that there would bo no moro of this fooling. Sir W. Agncw (L., Salford, W.), as n strong Frco Trader, took tho same lino, and urged tho necessity of' union in tills present timo of crisis. He supported the Government's proposals. Mr Denman (L., Carlisle) supported the amendment. . Mr R. Hunt described tho speech of Mr Duke as a mugwump's speech, of which tho meaning was that they must back tho Government whatever happened. Ho did not think tho Government worth backing. Sir F. Lowo (Birmingham, Edgbaston, IT.) said ho would votfi for colonial prefereneo on anv suitablo occasion, but this was a. question not of .preference, but of finding the money needed for tho war. The comniittco divided, and tlie numbers were: v For. tho amendment 20 •Against ... ... ... 125 Majority against ... 105 Sir A. Mond moved an amendment to exempt goods coming from Allied countries from tho new import duties. Mr McKcnna, resisting tho amendment. said that as regarded ono of the n.cw. duties. tho Ambassador of ono of our Allies had called tho attention of the Government to tho fact that it would injuriously affect sotiio of tho manufacturers of his country; but tho g£.'ovmuncnt had had nothing like ths protest which was raised in regard to previous proposals. Ho did not think tho duties would seriously affcct any of our Allies. The amendment was negatived without a. division and progress was reported.