PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 914, 12 June 1903, Page 2

PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

MR CHAPLIN’S AMENDMENT

REJECTED

AN ADVERSE .MOTION,

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. Received 10.52 p.m., June 11. LONDON, June 11. In flic House of Commons, Mr Chaplin's amendment was defeated by 421 to 28. Mr Alfred Hutton gave notice of motion, on behalf of the Opposition, that the House condemns any departure from freetrade, and considers protection, either for the purposes of colonial preference or retaliation upon foreigners, will inevitably Had to disaster, and endanger the unity of the Empire. He expresses profound regret that any Minister is committed to the policy, of food taxation.

Mr llenniker Heaton, interviewed, said he was confident the country would afford Mr Chamberlain a mandate for his preference proposals, lie believed Mr Death’, in his recent message to tlie Biiuinli Australasian, accurately described Australasia’s! attitude.

THE PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. TO CRITICS. THE HAPPY, SELF-CONTENTED BAND. OPINIONS MAY DIFFER BUT NOT ACTIONS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 12.29 a.m., Juno 12. ’*■• London, June 11.

In tho discussion on Mr Chaplin’s amendment, Mr Asquith asltca if tho words requeisecat resargain wero to be on- , grr.vod on a tax’s tomb. Ho protested that it was an undignifiod innovation for i mbmbors of tho saruo Cabinot posing as I propagandists of irreconcilable policies. Sir Edward Grey feared that tho repeal of the Coin Tax was tho precursor of something worso. If preferential trade wore onco conceded and then withdrawn tho Empire’s dissolution would follow. Mr Balfour said the tax had been abandoned because it was no longor required. It injured the farmor by raising tho price of feeding stuffs. Ho donied that absolute uniformity of opinions wub to bo oxpectcd amongst meinbors of a Government. Jt was sufficient if common action and common responsibility wero. Ho admitted that personally ho did not belong to the happy, solf-confidont band who thought a fiscal system half a century old mußt remain unchanged for over, but hB wbb convinced that no tax would be placed oil food except with tho country’s full consent, Great changes wore proceeding. A tariff wall was stoadily being raised against us. Great trusts threatened trados. Tho Colonies desired closer union by fiscal means, all of which wero matters deserving tho closest consideration.