IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 139, 12 June 1903, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS. PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION. London, June 10. Many Unionist newspapers in London and the provinces urge the Government to fu'fil the duties at hand. They declare thnt it is impossible to force the on a subject requiring careful consideration. The btojk .Exchange opened flat. Consols are onp quarter lower, American «iotks fell heavily and Sjuthl Africans are lower, X.R. CHiPUN'S MOTION DEFEATED. Received 11, 10.53 p.m. London, Juie 11. In tho House of Common, Mr Ohipiic's amendment was defeated by 424 to 28. - CORN TAX DEBATE. MR. BALFOUR'S SPEECH. Received 12, 12.29 a.m. London, June 11. In (he discussion on Mr Ohaplin's amendment, Mr Asquith asked if the words " Rf quiescat, Kißurgam " were to be engraved on the tax's tomb. He protected it was an undignified inno- 1 vation for members of the same Cabinet to pose as propagandists of irrcconcil- i able policies.

Sir Edward Grey fearel the repeil of. the corn tax wf s the precursor of something worse. If preferential trade was ence conceded, and then withdrawn, the Empire's disai lu'ion would follow. Mr. Bilfour said the tax had been abandoned because it was no longer required, and it injured the farmer by raising the pi ice of feeding stuffs. He denied that absolute uniformity of opinions was to be expected amongst members of the Government, It was sufficient if eommon acion and common r< spoDsibiiity was admitted. Personally he did not belong to the happy selfconfident band who thought a fiscal I system half a century old must remain unchanged for ever, but he was con vinc6d no tax could be placed on food except with the country's full consent;. Gre»t changes were proceeding, and the tariff wall was steadily being raised againsi us; great trusts threatened trade, and the Colonies desired a closer union by fiscal means, all of which were matters deserving the closest consideration.