THE FISCAL ISSUE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1626, 18 December 1912, Page 7

THE FISCAL ISSUE.

SPEECH, BY MR. BONAR LAW. FOOD TAXES. A COLONIAL CONFERENCE. Bv Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright (Rec. December 17, 9.25 p.m.) London, December 17. Mr. Bonar Law (Leader of the Unionist Party), speaking at Ashton-Under-Lync,'said, that the.greatest problem that statesman were faced with was how to obtain a fairer method of distributing industrial wealth. Ho believed that theremedy lay in co-operation, assisted by a fair fiscal system. '

If, he continued,'.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, said the speaker, could only arise after a deliberative conference. That was why he objected to submit' such proposals to a referendum.

In dealing with-food duties, said the Unionist Leader,.an essential condition should be that the burdens of the poorer classes would' not be increased. The ideal policy 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. We could have free-trade with India to-morrow. India feared, not competition with Britain, but competition with Japan. ,

"The'whole experience of tho civilised world," ho said, "is hostile to the British- fiscal system. Our colonies abandoned it, and no serious politician in any country proposes to return thereto."

The Unionists did'not intend by-a protective policy to foster unnatural industries, but. would impose -duties, lower than •any other industrial country. They, would not encourage the building-up. of monopolies, but merely intended.to give their own workmen preference in their own market; They would be unable to compete with trade rivals and also secure the largest preference possible in overseas 'markets*. The Unionist ; party 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 beimpossd.' , .''■''.

. NO POSTPONEMENT. '■•'■■• London,.December 17, Mr. Austen' Chamberlain,, speaking at Carlisle, said that any suggestion in the nature of a postponement of. .tariff reform would t split the Unionist party from top to bottom, and shake - public confi-dence-in, their honesty and good faith.