BOTH SIDES AFRAID.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3720, 4 January 1913, Page 7

BOTH SIDES AFRAID.

THE HOME RULE QUESTION. POSSIBILITY OF APPEAL TO COUNTRY DISCUSSED. MR. BONAR LAW AND THE FOOD TAXES. THEIR ELIMINATION URGED.

[UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT] (Received Jan. 3, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3. There are many comments on Mr Asquith’s (Premier) hint of the possibility of taking the Home Rule question to the country and Mr Bonar Law's (Leader of the Opposition) acceptance of the challenge. Ministerialists regard the statements as merely debating points. A member of the Government, who has concealed his identity, predicts that next election will he based on the franchise for women and not Home Rule. The Labor view is that neither the Unionists nor the Radicals want an election as the former are concerned with internal differences and the latter dread the effect of the Insurance scheme on the result of such an elect-

At an informal conference between Mr Bonar Law and the Lancashire Unionists the latter emphatically opposed the inclusion of food taxes in the Party’s programme. Air Bonar Law promised to carefully consider their views. Unionist groups representing agricultural divisions also met and decided to urge the elimination of the food taxes. In the Commons discussion on the Home Rule Bill was lifeless. Six clauses were reviewed with the aid of the guiliottne, and seven Government amendments were inserted without explanation. The Franchise Bill committee stage begins during the last week in January.