FOOD TAXES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1635, 31 December 1912, Page 5

FOOD TAXES.

IMPERIAL COMMERCIAL UNION. i / ■- / MR, BONAR LAW DEFENDED. J ..•■■'. . ; " ; / APPEAL TO THE COUNTRY favoured: . Dr TolGEraDh—Press Association—Conyrlsht London, December 29. Mr. Austen Chamberlain (Unionist member for Worcestershire), writing to a correspondent, states that it is obvious that a consultation with the Dominions will be necessary before dealing with the details of preference. , "We have no more pretention to fix •colonial duties than the Dominions have to fix ours," says Mr. Chamberlain, "but -I -believe that commercial union .would l>e mutually advantageous; and I believe an . agreement could be arranged ; wlien the 'Unionists are "in power." ' THE ELECTION ISSUE. GOVERNMENTS PROFLIGACY. London, December 29. The "Daily Telegraph" has joined forces with the London and Provincial Unionist press in' urging that the , next election should not be. obscured by the question of food taxes. After, quoting the opinions of Australian newspapers, the "Telegraph" declares that the Dominions' objections as to the onus of ah unpopular decision raises serious problems. The Unionist leaders, the paper continues, would .be'the first • to, agree that this is no time for an Imperial misunderstanding; and they'ought to make it clear that in the proposed conference no Dominion will be asked to'express an opinion in favour of food duties in Great Britain. If duties are necessary, under the Imperial preference scheme, then Great ■Britain should freely offer them., Mr.. Bonar law proposes to seek a mandate,. but the overwhelming Unionist opinion; favours -ratification after.introduction, "by. an appeal to the country. . , ; "The 'Unionists 1 first duty," declares t? a t "Telegraph," "is to. fight, tho next electii n ' 'upon the ground of Government political profligatfy.. Anything detracting from that., course ought to.'be eliminated.". The "Observer" urges the Unionists tq ! unflinchingly insist on a united Empire. ( Mr. Bonar' Lawte speech had been some? what misunderstood,, and equally and inexcusably misrepresented. Anything in . . the way of preference will be of advantage to the Empire. "The "Spectator" says that by latest estimates the Unionist 1 members -.and candidates anxious to press for food taxes have :beeh reduced to a bare' handful. •