BRITISH FINANCE BILL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 246, 11 July 1919, Page 7

BRITISH FINANCE BILL

PREFERENCE DEBATED PRINCIPLE AFFIRMED By Telegraph—Press Association-OoDvricht (Rec. July .11, 0.10 a.m.) London, July 9. In the House of Commons, Mr. Churchill moved an amendment to tho Finance Bill applying preference to the numdutory territories.

Sir Auckland Geddes announced Uhat Cabinet had carefully considered the amqndment and approved it. Sir George M'Lcun contended that the amendment was a breach of the luandalory principle. The amendment wa,s adopted, by 195 votes to 59

Captain Wedgwood Bean moved to delete Imperial, preference, and Sir Frederick Young strongly supported preference. Mr. Austen Chamberlain said: "Tho Dominions have 'repeatedly disclaimed any desire fo interfere with British domestic policy, but have asked me, in sollling our tariff, to include preference. Every colonial and Imperial conference has advocated preference."

Sir Donald Maclean said that the acceptance of tho proposals was the lieginning of a complete system of prefer, ence, heading to protection. The fnin traders would persevere in their opposition. The amendment was rejected by 271 to 52. Payments to the Railways. Mr. W. C. Bridgrnan, speaking in the House of Commons, said that the Government must pay 'the railways sixty millions in the current year, under the Government control system, including a working deficiency of 11J millions and 151 millions which had been guaranteed to the companies as not receipts.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. ■ \