FOOD TAXES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1637, 2 January 1913, Page 5

FOOD TAXES.

MR. BONAR LAW'S SPEECH* HINT TO PARTY DIBSENTERBi MAY LOSE THEIR LEADER. Br Teleeranh— Vnm Aaiociatlon-Copyrfirlit London, December 31. . A well-informed correspondent of the 'Tall Mall Gazette" declares that if the Unionists attempt to press Mr. Bonar Law to modify his Ashton-under->Lyne speech, on Tariff Reform, it is absolutely certain that ho will resign tho leadership of tho party. The writer adds that the un% of tho party under any other leader would, in • tho presen* circumstances, be impossible. ' A MUCH-DISCUSSED SPEECH. Mr. Bonar Law (Leader of the Unionist party), speaking on December 17 at Aeh-ton-undcr-Lyne, said that if the Unionists were entrusted with power, they did not intend to impose food taxes without first convening a colonial conference to consider, tho whole question of preferential trade. The question of food duties could only ariso after a deliberative conference. was why he objected to submit such proposals to a referendum. The Unionists did not intend by a protectivo policy to foster unnatural industries, but would ini-, poso' duties lower than any other indus*' trial country. They would not encourage tho building up of monopolies, but merely intended to give their own workmen preference in their'-own market. They would be unablo to compete with' trade' rivals and also secure the largest preference possible in overseas markets.' The Unionist party promised clearly to define, tho nature of the duties before the general election. It was hoped that it would not'bo necessary to impose any more than a duty on wheat. If, after a conference with the colonies, snoh duties were regarded as unnecessary, they would never be imposed.. : ' .'.,,'.