IMPERIAL POLITICS

Evening Star, Issue 15065, 23 December 1912, Page 6

IMPERIAL POLITICS

THE FOOD TAXES PROPOSAL.

STIRS UP A HORNET'S NEST.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

LONDON, December 21. Speaking at Dudley, Mr F. E. Smith, M.P., said that if the Unionists abandoned the Tariff Reform party they would be so bankrupt in honor and so saturated with poltroonery that they would be received with contempt in the constituencies. The new followers of Mr Bonar Law had never suggested that the decision respecting; food taxes should be left to the Oversea Dominions, nor had they ever proposed to abdicate their responsibilities, which a British Government must owe to British people only. He pointed out that the situation had largely changed since Mr Joseph Chamberlain made his proposals. It was now impossible,to introduce Imperial Preference without protracted consultation with the Dominions, in order that they might state authoritatively what they considered vital in carrying out that policy. The newspapers give prominence to the dissensions in the ranks of the Unionists in connection with the food taxes proposition.

The 'Liverpool Courier' (C.) states that the Unionist party are drifting to destruction. It demands a conference in London of the Lancashire leaders anent the referendum.

The 'Yorkshire Post' (C.) deplores the abandonment of the referendum, which would have enabled many Liberals to vote with the Unionist party, and allowed the latter to proceed in a way commanding general assent. The 'Morning Post' (C.) strongly advocates food taxes.

Other Unionist papers ar© ignoring the question", hoping thereby to heal dissension in the ranks of the party. 'The Times' continues to advocate the abandonment of the food taxes under existing circumstances, believing that reciprocal Preference can well be established without them.

The- "Westminster Gazette' (L.) sums up the situation thus: " The party in Birmingham urge that food taxes are essential, while the party in London say that the food taxes should not be pressed." A PRESS TRUST. SOUTH AFRICAN OPINIONS. LONDON, December 21. Mr Garvin, editor of the. 'Pall Mall Gazette' (U.), makes a sensational attack on Lord Northcliffe, and blames 'The Times' for following the 'Daily Mail's' repudiation of food duties. He attributes the attitude of both journals to Lord Nortjicliffe's prodigious business commitments. Lord Northcliffe has declared that he has no time for a study of Conservative politics; _ yet his lordship was exercising an irresponsible despotism which no sane society would allow any man to possess. Mr Garvin adds that no Meat Trust is so dangerous as this Press Trust. The 'Cape Town Argus' considers Mr Bonar Law's speech a tactical error. It does not believe that any Dominion cares to ask for food duties if "the British workers resent them. The 'Johannesburg Star' (Progressive) is imbued with the conviction that Mr Bonar Law's proposals will lead to enormous mutual benefits. THE WELSH CHUKCH BILL. LONDON, December 21. The Welsh National Liberal Council have adopted a resolution protesting against, the concessions made by the Government in the disendowmeV- clauses of the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill, and declaring that if any further concessions' are made the Government will alienate the support of the Welsh Liberals. ANGRY WELSHMEN. ' LONDON, December 22. (Received December 23, at 10.5 a.m.) The Welsh members give the credit to Mr W. G. C. Gladstone, the member for Kilmarnock, as being the real author of the Government's concessions to the Welsh Church. THE SILVER PURCHASE INQUIRY. LONDON, December 22. (Received December 25, at 8.45 a.m.) The 'Pall Mall Gazette' (U.) considers that the failure of the committee of inquiry to agree unanimously as to thft granting of loans by the India, Office to Sit. Stuart Samuel's firm, and their reference to the Privy Council, has increased the nruddle. The question at issue is not a matter for legal pundits, but what a man owes to himself and to his constituents.