THE CORN TAX.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 439, 11 June 1902, Page 2

THE CORN TAX.

SPEECH BY SIR M. HICKS-BEACH.

PREFERENTIAL TRADE WITH

COLONIES.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, June 10.

In the House of Commons Sir W. Harcourt asked Sir M. Hicks-Beaoh if the corn tax was a step towards a preferential trade with the Colonies. Sir M. HicksBeach said that it was introduced as a war revenue tax, because it was necessary to permanently enlarge the area of indirect taxation. He ridiculed the notion that the duty was as a prelude to a Customs Union of the Empire upon protectionist basis, and disclaimed tho interpretation given by Sir W. Laurier, Cag Premier, -as -to— ~of “ the tax. Freetrade throughout the Empire did not necessarily involve tho imposition of duties as against foreign nations, but if we could secure freetrade with the colonies even some sacrifices in that direction might be made. Such freetrade was not atpresent possible. The Government’s policy was not to impose duties against foreigners, but to help to make the trade of the Motherland and colonies freer.

An amendment in favor of limiting the corn-tax to one year was negativod by a majority of 63.

The Standard, commenting on the speech, understands that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach refers to the possibility of obtaining an all-round reduction of duties for goods from one British port to another.