UNIONIST CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15201, 15 January 1913, Page 7

UNIONIST CRISIS.

FRONT BENCH DIFFERENCES.

AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN'S

VIEWS.

DISSENT FROM PARTY'S DECISION. .

"CALAMITOUS CHANGE."

By Telegraph.—rrcss Association.— Copyright. (Received January 14. 9.35 p.m.)

London, January 14.

The Unionist Party's position in connection with the recent differences of opinion regarding the tariff reform and food tax questions was referred to by Mr; Austen Chamberlain (one of the leading members of the party) in a speech last night. Mr. Chamberlain said that he did not wish to increase the difficulties of the leaders of the party, but he said that the speech made by Mr. Bonar Law at Ashton-Under-Lyne, had not allayed thq restlessness created bv his earlier speech at the Albert Hall. " Change in the Position. Although he was not consulted about the speech at Ashton-Under-Lyne, and whilst he did not wholly agree with it, he was prepared at the time to subordinate his views to those of his leader. He would still have been ready to do so if the position had not changed, but the position had changed. The timid ones, he said, had become frightened, and the strong supporters of the party's policy had become puzzled, and the uncertainty had led' to a widespread movement to postpone the question of preference. •

Nesd x lor Food Taxes. Mr. Chamberlain said that he believed that food duties were necessary to afford justice to Britain's own agriculture. It was impossible to secure community of interest between the different- parts of the Empire without them. s Continuing, he said that he had urged his colleagues to throw their whole strength into the campaign, and not to cease their efforts until they had destroyed the misrepresentations by means of which the policy of the party had been clouded. He still believed that this would be the most courageous ' and the wisest course, but the party's decision was against him. Unable to Share Responsibility. For the first time, he added, he was unable to share the responsibility for the party's decision. He could not turn his back upon himself, or unsay what he had said, cr pretend to like the changed attitude of the party. The change of attitude, he was afraid, would be calamitous to the party, and a misfortune to the Empire. •' ■>■

MR. BONAE LAWS TWO 6PEEOHES. In his speech at the great Unionist demonstration at the Albert Hall on November 15, Mr. Bonar Law, referring to taxes on foodstuff said :—" We shall not treat any revenue derived from so-called food taxes, whatever they are/ which may be imposed for preference— shall not treat it as ordinary revenue we shall use it to diminish the burdens which in other wavs'are falling upon the poorer classes of this country. (Cheers.) It will not be an additional taxation; it will be a readjustment of taxation; and owing to this revenue, and owing to the expansion which I am certain will come with this change of system—l say then that instead of adding to the cost of living, the adjustment which we shall make will make the burden smaller instead of greater which falls on the working classes." In his speech at Ashton-TJnder-Lyne (Lancashire), on December 16, Mr. Law said that if the Unionists were entrusted with legislative power they did not intend to impose food taxes without first convening a colonial conference to consider the whole question of preferential trade. "The question of food duties, he said, could only arise after a eliberativa conference. That ■was -why, he objected to submit such proposals to a referendum. The ideal policy, he remarked, was free-trade within the Empire, but it was impossible to get it now with our colonies, though a system of preference would tend ultimately in that direction. The Unionist Party, he added, promised clearly to define the nature of the duties before the general election.. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to impose any more than a duty on wheat. If. after a conference with the colonies, such duties were regarded as unnecessary, they would never be imposed.

"THE ONLY DIFFERENCE." REFERENDUM OR, ELECTION. (Eeceived January 14, 9.35 p.m.) , London, January 14. Mr. F. E. Smith (Unionist member for the Walton division of Liverpool), in speaking at Cricklewood last night, said that the only difference amongst the Unionists ■was whether the food tax question should be decided on a proposal submitted to the country by way of a referendum, or by means of a general election. .■'■„■■' CONFERENCE OF LEADERS MEMORIAL TO BE APPROVED. London, January 13. A conference regarding the crisis in the Unionist Party's ranks in connection with the tariff question was held to-day between Lord Lansdowne (Leader of the party in the House of Lords) and Mr. Bonar Law (the party's" leader in the House of Commons). It is understood 'that the two leaders will agree to a slight modification of the policy outlined in the memorial presented by the followers of the party to Mr. Law.

The memorial presented to Mr. Bonar Law was signed by practically all the Unionist members of the House. The contents of the memorial were kept secret, but it is understood that it reaffirms the belief of the signatories in Imperial preference and th&u it expresses the opinion that the best interests of the party would be consulted if the question of food duties were removed from the points to be submitted at the next elections. Mr. Law, on receiving the memorial, said that he would consult Lord Lansdowne, and give his reply as soon as PQsaibla.