The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 1923. PREFERENCE WITHIN THE EMPIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, OCTOBER 15th, 1923. PREFERENCE WITHIN THE EMPIRE.

According to the London ‘\Dailv Express”, a newspaper which supports the present British Government, many members of the Government are becoming convinced that “whole hog” protection. including food taxes, is no longer unpopular even with the Labour Party. This means (the ‘Express” acids) a political fight of the first magnitude. The Conservative Party is hack at the old crisis. If it plumps for preference and protection, Mr Bonar Law’s election pledges will necessitate a general election. A political fight of the first magnitude certainly would b<

in prospect if the British Government “plumped for preference and protection”—that is to say, for the imposition of such duties on foodstuffs and raw materials as would enable it to extend a substantial measure of fiscal preference to the countries of the overseas Empiie. That any large proportion. of the members of the British Conservative Party are inclined to make this venturesome plunge is, however, very improbable. A bold development of fiscal preference as a means of fostering Imperial trade and bringing the countries of the Empire into a closer economic lclationsbip piohably would command wider support in the l iiited Kingdom to-day than when it was raised by the late Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain in tli L * early years of the present century. ATT there is little doubt that, in going to the country oil. such a, policy of prefe-em-e, the Conservatives would gravely imperil the unity and prospects of their party. It is moie important that by bringing preference into the forefront of political pa:ty ware fa re they would create an atim.sphere anything hut favourable to the sound development of the Empire. Emm a purely party standpoint, the objection in raising Imperial preference as a major issue is that, it would tend to s| lit the Conservative Rat ty and to unite Opposition elements which at present a v e as much at variance with one another as they are with the Government. British domestic politics apart, however, it is evidently undesirable that important aspects of Imperial policy should become the theme ol hitter party contention in the Failed Kingdom. It is possible to believe tlmt a comprehensive system of Tmpuiial fiscal preference would greatly benefit the United Kingdom as well .as other parts of the Empire and yet hold that in existing conditions the matter is better left alone. Obviously, even if the Conservative l’arty carried the day on sin appeal to the country on fiscal policy any important, extension of Imperial preference based on this victory would rest on an insecure foundation. In tliis particular ease, the opponents of the Government in all likelihood would be pledged to reverse its policy as soon as they attained office in their turn. It is desirable that Imperial policy should develop on linos approved at least broadly by competing and generally opposed political parties in several countries of tip, Empire, and not least in the United Kingdom. In the extent to which it became a bone of contention between political parties, Imperial policy would Ip. a thing, of shreds and patches hopelessly lacking in continuity and assured and definite aim. One suggestion advanced by the ‘‘Daily Express” that- the Dominion Prime Ministers as a body are likely to drive the British Government into adopting an ambitious policy of Imperial fiscal preference—is based manifestly on A misreading of the facts.