Chaplin's Amendment Defeated.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10973, 12 June 1903, Page 5

Chaplin's Amendment Defeated.

Another Opposition Motion Press Association. —Telegraph. —Copyright Received June 11, 10.53 p^m. < • LONDON, June 11. . • In the Commons, Mr Chaplin's amendment was,defeated by 425't0 28., Mr Alfred Hutton gave notice of motion, on behalf of the Opposition', that the House condemns any departure from Freetrader and -considers Protection, either for the purpose'of colonial preference or for retaliation upon foreigners, will inevitably ■ lead to' disaster and endanger the uni^y of the Empire v Iti.ex- • presses profound regret that any-Minister,' is committed to a policy of food taxation. •' In the discussion on Mr' Chaplin's ' amendment; the Right Hon. H. H. Asquith (Secretary of State for Home De- ' partment) asked if. the words "reguiescat resargam" were> to be. engraved on the tax's tomb.'- He protested that it was an undignified innovation for members of the same Cabinet to be posing as the propagandists of irreconcilable policies. Sir Edward Gray feared that the repeal of the corn tax was the precursor of something worse." If preferential trade were onjee conceded and then withdrawn, the Empire's dissolution would-follow.. Premier Balfour said the" tax had been abandoned because it .was no longer required. 'It injured the farmer by raising the price of fdeding stuffs. He denied that 'absolute uniformity of opinion was to be expected - amongst the members of a Government. It was sufficient if 'common action and common responsibility was admitted. Personally; he. did not belong to the happy, self-confident bapd who thought a fiscal system. h^alf a century old must remain unchanged for ever, but. was con-vinced'-that Mo i;tax> sl^oulcLrbe.* placed? on •food except with the country's full consent.' Great changes were proceeding, A tariff wall was steadily being raised against us, great trusts' threatened our trade, .and the colonies desired closer union by fiscal means, all of which were matters deserving the closesttconsideration. . [