TARIFF REFORMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 154, 16 November 1912, Page 5

TARIFF REFORMS.

ENTHUSIATIC UNIONIST MEETING. A POLICY STATEMENT. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 15, 10.10 p.m. London, November 1,1 Ten thousand Unionists, at a gathering in the Albert Hall, gave an ovation to Mr. Bonar Law, la.sting five minutes. Ulstermen brought the largest Union Jack in the world, and stretched it full length on the platform. Lord Lansdowne made an important announcement of policy. He remarked that the Unionists, if they win the general election, will be free to undertake tariff reform and enter into reciprocal arrangemnets with the Dominions without further reference to the constituencies. Reform was their foremost plank, and there must be a free bargain with the Dominions. Each side would doubtless think most of all of its own people, but both must think of the Empire. If the Dominions ask us to return the substantial advantage they should be prepared to want us to grant them a moderate duty on foreign wheat, sufficient to bring to the Mother Land's market unlimited supplies. All Canadian and Australian Unionists should examine the proposal, undeterred by the cry of taxation of food. The Unionists were prepared to give a twofold undertaking: Firstly, to fix the precise limits of such taxes so as not to exceed the limit without the people's further authorisation; secondly, any revenue such as taxes to be devoted to the alleviation of the workers' burdens, and thus make good Mr. Balfour's assurance that colonial reciprocity would not involve the workers' cost of living.