IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10295, 2 June 1919, Page 6

IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS AN ANAEMIC EFFORT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July 1, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON. May 30. Sir Donald Maclean, in the House of Commons, urged the appointment of a committee to inquire into the proposed capital levy, providing data for a decision before the next Budget. Ho regarded the Imperial preference proposals as an anaemic effort, and hoped the Chancellor would gather courage to introduce a scheme of more lasting importance to the whole Empire. REJECTION OF FINANCE BILL moved; • Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 2, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 1, Mr Acland, in the House of Commons. moved the rejection of the Finance Bill, objecting to the preferential tariffs, and the reduction of the excess profits tax without a similar reduction of the workers’ income tax; also to the failure of the Government to introduce a capital levy. . Mr Austen Chamberlain defended preference. He said Britain had derived advantage by the existing Dominions preference. He condemned a capital levy, which would create a feeling of fear and insecurity among those to whom they must appeal to put the country’s finance on a sound footing. He hoped the Allies by 1920 would be in a position to shoulder some of their debts, also that our enemies would Begin to make contributions.

r J. B. Olynea .said taxation alone could no. coury the immense war burdens. He repudiated the idea that friendship with the Dominions would be improved by preference. It would give some colonial traders vast pro'fits.