British Politics.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 781, 25 March 1905, Page 3

British Politics.

GRADUATF.I) INCOME TAX. LONDON. March 23. The Right Hon. A. Lyttelton (Secretary for the Colonies) stated that he xvas unable to I'tHjliyh a return relating to the systems of graduatted and differentiated colonial income taxi, because New Zealand and some of the Australian States had not furnished particulars. Mr Austen ChauVbei'lain prefaced the announcement as to the date of the Budget xvith" the words " iu the - ordinary cjuisu ol things." UK CHAMBERLAIN ON THE DUTIES OF CONSERVATIVES. J (Received March 21, SM2 p.m.) LONDON, March 21. Mr Hill, late Chairman of the Greenwich Conservative Association, iIKIUi lel whither tile tariff reform section of the Greemvich Conserxatives were- justified in selecting a candidate opposetl to Lord thigh Cecil, Conserxatixe member for Greenwich. Mr Chamberlain replied that a majority of Unionists, whether in Greenwich or elsewhere, xvere both justified, and required by their duty to make n selection in the matter. It was of urgent importance to make every ellort to be fully represented in the House of Commons. The question noxv dividing the Unionists is not new, although it had recently become one of I radical politics. The late Lord Salisbury on several occasions c ti'ed serious attention to the defects of the present ■system,lndicating 1 that some form of letaliation xvasi the only remedy. On one occasion he aidvocaited a policy of closer commercial union with the colonies. The Naticnal Union of Conservative Associations, xvhich was exclusively authorised to speak of Conservatixe opinion as a whole, repeatedly and strongly resolved- in fax-our- of the tariff reform. 'UKLi lucre! Unionist Federation in 1903 almost unanimously resolx-ed to support the fiscal reform in an attempt to arrange wjth the colonies for an increased' trade on a preferential basis. Instead of a justification there was. a refusal to abide by the representative organisation decisions. The minority advised their friends not to support Unionist candidates folloxxing the policy supported by a vast majority of the Conservative Unionist party. -Their action was -doubtless the result of conscientious natures, but they must not complain wh?re, from similar motives, the majority defend themselves and their opinions from such attacks, and endeavour to secure the success of the policy xx-here-on they believe the interests of Uiionists and the country's future prosperity mainly depend.