Preferential Trade.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12280, 12 June 1903, Page 5

Preferential Trade.

.GOVERNMENT UNANIMITY. TAX ON FOOD! MR B ALFOUR' S OPIN IONS . .United Press Association,— By Electrifc trie Telegraph.— Copyright. London, June 11. In the House of Gommons Mr Chaplin's aincndiment was defeated by 4ii4 to 28. -. . JxL,t4ie, disewssion on Mr Chapjin's amendment, Mr Aaquith asked if the workls "Reqiiiescat, Reaiurgam" were to be engraved ;ori tlie tax's tomb. Hd protested it. was an u,ndignifie.d innovation for members of the same Cabinot io poso os propagandists of irreconcilable policies. Sir, Edward Grey feared the repeal of the corn tax was the precursor of Something worse. If preferential trade was once conceded, and* then withdrawn, the Empire's dissolution would follow. » v Mr Balfour .said the tax had been abandoned because it was. no longer required,- and it injured the farmer by raising the price of feeding stuffs. He denied "that absolute unifdrmity of dpiijions was to be expected amongst members of the. It was Sufficient- if common action and ' eoramon responsibility was admitted. -Pert son ally he did not belong to the happy self-confident band who thought a fiscal system half a century old must "remain unchanged for ever, but he was - convinced no tax .could be placed on food except with the coxtntry's full consent.^ Great changes were and the tariff wall was steafcUly being raised against' us; groat trusts threatened trade, and., the Col-, onies desired a closer union by, fiscal means, all of were matters deserving the ol'oses^considoraiion.