A DISGRUNTLED PARTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3712, 23 December 1912, Page 5

A DISGRUNTLED PARTY.

UNIONISTS AND THE FOOD TAXES.,. SENSATIONAL LITERARY ATTACK ON LONDON NEWSPAPER MAN. THE “PRESS TRUST” DENOUNCED.

I DNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT] (Received Dec. 22, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22. Mr F. E. Smith (Unionist), speaking at Dualey, said that if the Unionists abandoned Tariff Reform the Party would be so bankrupt in honor and so saturated in poltroonery that it woidd be received with contempt by the constituencies and would have to find new leaders and new followers. Mr Bonar Law, the Party’s leader, had never suggestedgrthe decision that the food taxes should be left to the colonies and had nevar proposed to abdicate any responsibility which the British Government must owe to British jjeople. He only pointed out that the situation had largely changed since Mr Chamberlain made his proposals so that it was now impossible to introduce Imperial preference without a protracted consultation with the colonies in order that they might tell us authoritatively what they consider vital in carrying out the policy. The newspapers give prominence to the dissention among the Unionists in connection with the food taxes.

The “Liverpool Courier. ’’ a Conservative organ, states that the Unionist Party is drifting to destruction and demanded a conference of the London and Lancashire leaders anent the referendum.

The “Yorkshire Post” deplores the abandonment of the referendum, which would have enabled many Liberals to vote with tbe Unionist and would enable the party to proceed on forms commanding general absent. The “Morning Post” strongly advocates food taxes.

Other Unionist papers are ignoring the question, hoping thereby to heal the dispute.

The “Times” continues to advocate tlie abandonment of the ‘food taxes, and says that in the existing circumstances reciprocal preference can well be established without them. Hie “Westminster Gazette” sums up the situation as follows: The Birmingham party urges that the food taxes are essential and London says the food taxes should not be pressed. Mr Garvin (Editor of the “Pall Mall Gazette”) makes a sensational attack on Lord Northeliffe (principal proprietor of the “Times'). and blames the “Times” for following the

“Daily Mail’s” (which paper Lord Northeliffe 13 also largely connected with) repudiation of the food duties. Ho attributes the attitude of both papers to Lord Xortheiiffe's prodigious business committments and declares that he has no time for the conservative study or politics and yet. behind the national scenes, is exercising an irresponsible despotism which no sane societv should allow a- man

to possess. Mr Garvin adds: “No meat trust is so dangerous as this press trust.” South African cables shew that the

“Capetown Argus” regards Mr Bonar Law's speech as a tactical error and does not believe that in the case of any dominion it would ask for food duties if the British workers resent them.

The “Johannesburg Star” a. progressive organ, is imbued with the conviction that Mr Bonar Law’s proposals will lead to enormous mutual benefit.