BRITISH PREFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14052, 3 May 1919, Page 5

BRITISH PREFERENCE

QUESTION OF FOOD TAXATION. SPIRIT OP UNITY URGED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received May 2, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, 1 -May 1. Sir Donald McLean, resuming the Budget debate, said that the great spending departments, which were spreading devastation throughout the ■country, must be curbed. Mr Joseph Chamberlain had said that complete Imperial preference would invariably entail taxes of food. Mr Austen Chamberlain interposed: "The Government does not intend new food taxes." Sir Donald continued, stating that great trade with the Dominions could not be developed without granting preference on corn, meat and wool. He regretted that ho must fight the proposal Col. L. C. M. G. Amery, Parliamentary Secretary for the Colonic, defended the Government's proposal. He said this was not n direct issue between Free Trade and Protection, it was a question whether we. regarded the Empire as a unit and whether we were willing to promote intercourse, understanding and development, thus strengthening the dominions. It was a worthy policy to carry out,, irrespective of old party divisions. We were entering a new period in the Empire's history, and ought to deal with industrial, social and economic problems in a new spirit, aiming at wider unity.