IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16488, 2 March 1914, Page 7

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

SIMULTANEOUS POLLING BILL. SECOND READING PASSED BY HOUSE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 28, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, February 28. The Houso of Commons passed the second reading of a private member s Bill to conduct polling at tho general elections on tho same day throughout the United Kingdom. BILL ADOPTED BY THE GOVERN- . MENT. (Received March 1, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 28. Tho Right Hon Herbert Samuel, president of the Local Government Board, on behalf of the Government, has adopted Mr Vernoy’s Bill fixing all polls at the general election, except those at the Universities, for the same day. TARIFF REFORM. THE UNIONIST POLICY. (Received March 1, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 28. Mr Bonar Law, in the journal “ Our Flag,” outlines tho Unionist policy on tariff reform at the next election, Iz w’ill not impose new food duties, but hopes to remove some of the existing duties. It would impose a tariff not exceeding an average of ten per cent on foreign goods, so as to establish Imperial preference. Such duties could be justified on tho strictest Free Trade principles by the needs of revenue as they would be on the same ground as the revenue tariffs of'Free Trade India and Egypt. Farmers would he compensated by using a portion of the tariff revenue for reducing the burdens on agriculture.. There would also ho a readjustment in local taxation/ The annual value of imported luxuries was thirty millions and these -were best able to bear the* tariff.