IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2784, 24 July 1907, Page 19

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

PEEFERENTIAL TRADE. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OP COMMONS. MR LYTTELTON'S MOTION REJECTED. LONDON, July 16. In the House of Commons to-day Mr Lyttelton moved the following motion: -7"That the House regrets that the Government declined the invitation unanimously preferred by the Prime Ministers of the self-governing colonies to consider favourably any form of colonial preference or measure for the closer commercial union of the Empire on a preferential basis." He complained that the colonial Premiers' proposals -met with unqualified rejection at the 'hands of the Government. He congratulated Mr Lloyd-George on scattering to the winds at the conference the argument that the commercial tie -was a sordid bond. Mr Lyttelton insisted that preference would stimulate intercourse with the colonies, -remove many difficulties in foreign policy, promote consistency and coherence by transforming divergent -into common interests, and also increase the power of the colonies to bear the^urden of Empire. •Mr Soares then moved the following amendment :—" That the permanent unity of the Empire will not be secured through a system of preferential duties based on the protective taxation of food." Mr Winston Churchill said it was curious to censure the Government for keeping their election promises. Really the motion was only a cry of petulant vexation. 'It was idle to discuss preference without definite proposals showing what they contemplated taxing. He asked whether the Opposition adhered to the protective duties enumerated by Mr Chamberlain in 1903. If preference was given on existing dutiable articles, how would the gap in revenue be filled up? Such a system of preference would introduce the vicious feature of discrimination between one class of producers and another. A fiscal revolution involving taxes on necessaries of life would be certain to create an anti-colonial party in Britain. Mr Balfour declared that nobody desired a protective duty on food. If colonial preference were returned, valuable colonial concessions already granted would be largely increased. It would be very rs«h to 6lam the door in the face of the colonies. It would t>e wiser to make some immediate sacrifices, though he did not believe any would be required, since it was imperative to broaden the basis of taxation. New taxes should be used for the purpose of giving colonial preference. Mr Asquith categorically asked Mr Balfour would he tax corn, meat, wool, and butter, and added, since no answer was forthcoming, he would leave the matter there. Mr Lyttelton's motion was rejected by 404 to 111. Mr Soares's amendment was carried without a division, the Liberals loudly cheering. t July 17. Fourteen Unionist Freetraders voted ■with the minority on Mr Lyttelton's censure motion. Eight of them intimated that they would not withdraw their objection to colonial preference if based on the taxation, of com, meat, and raw materials. MR BALFOUR'S POLICY. LONDON, July 15. Mr Balfour has informed the Western Counties Tariff Reform Federation that 4ys policy is to broaden the basis of taxation, to promote colonial preference, and to mitigate hostile tariffs and illegitimate competition. BRITISH TRADE. SPEECH BY MR LLOYD-GEORGE. LONDON, July 16. Paring the debate in the House of

Commons on Mr Lyttelton's motion Mr Llojd-George (President of the Board of Trade) declared that in the last few yeaTs British trade had increased considerably more even in protected- markets than in colonial markets. He ridiculed the idea that the colonies would be content wi£n a little preference as regards wine, tobacco, and Canadian whisky, and added that if • the tariff reformers' proposals w,ere accepted one democracy in the Empire would be preying upon another. FIJI NATIVE LANDS. LONDON, July 17. In the House of Lords, at Lord Stanmore's request, Lord Elgin (Colonial Secretary) consented to present to the house the correspondence respecting the sale of land in the provinces, of Rewa and Naitasire, in Fiji. jLofd Stanmore expressed a fear that it would be possible, tinder the Tecent ordinance, for the authorities by the acquisition of land for public purposes to deprive the Fijians of the whole of their lands. Lord Elgin replied that the- Governor of Fiji was still bound to protect the interests of the natives,, who were unable» owing to the declining population, to cultivate all the land available. It was the duty of the Government to take steps to promote the settlement of the islands, and to increase the population. Lord Elgin ■expressed the belief that the correspondence would satisfy Lord Stanmore. EVICTED TENANTS BILL. LONDON, July 18. In the House of Commons the Ulster Unionists made vigorous efforts in the committee stage to limit the benefit of the Evicted Tenants Bill to 2000 tenants and to prevent the compulsory acquisition of more than 80,000 acres. Mr Birrell Tefused to limit the powers of the Commissioners. THE FINANCE BILL. LONDON, July 17. In the House of Commons, in connection with the Finance Bill, Mr Asquith refused to accept Mr J. F. Rawlinsoh's clause exempting those incomes which had already paid income tax in the colonies from assessment in Great Britain. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said lie went very thoroughly into the matter with Mr Deakin and Dr Jameson at the Imperial Conference, and he flattered himself that he succeeded in persuading them that it was quite impossible for the Imperial Government to make any change in the direction desired. He was unable to agree that any grievance existed in regard to individuals. If any man resided here, and enjoyed the protection of our laws, it was only fair he should contribute to the income tax on his whole income, wheresoever it arose. When a company was substantially controlled and directed in the colony or a foreign" country, income tax was only payable on the part of the profits remitted. Mr Leverton Harris (the member for Tower Hamlets) said he hoped that the next Budget would provide that colonial and foreign companies which did their business in England, thereby competing with English companies, should pay income tax. THE ARMY BILL. LONDON, July 19. The House of Lords has passed the Army Bill through committee. The Government has accepted an amendment permitting associations to expend their private funds on school battalions, the members of which are under the age of 16 years. HOME RULE. LONDON, July 22. Sir T. Grattan Esmonde (Nationalist), member for North Wexford, has joined the Sinn Fein movement, declaring that Ireland must give up bargaining with bated breath in a foreign Legislature and with foreign people for the restoration of stolen libertiet,

A BYE-ELECTION. SOCIALIST CANDIDATE RETURNED. LONDON, July 19. The bye-election for the Colne Valley Division. of Yorkshire resulted as follows : — Grayson (Socialist) 3648 Bright (Liberal) 3495 Wheeler (Unionist) 3227 July 20. Mr Grayeon claims that he won the seat on pure revolutionary Socialism issues, receiving- no official support from any other organisation or party. Mr Grayson advocates State ownership and State control of everything, aleo the abolition of sex disabilities. The late member, Sir James Kitson (L) was firet elected for this seat in 1892, and at the general' election in 1906 he was returned unopposed. The seat became vacant owing to Sir James being raised to the peerage at the end of last month.