TARIFF REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 185, 23 December 1912, Page 5

TARIFF REFORM.

"UNIONISTS DRIFTING TO DESTRUCTION." PARTY DIFFERENCES. By Cables-Press Association—Copyright. Received 22, 5.5 p.m. London, December 21. Mr. F. Smith, speaking at Dudley, said that if the Unionists abandoned tariff reform the party would be so bankrupt in honour and saturated with poltroonery that it would receive the contempt of the constituencies, who would have to find, new leaders and new followers. Mr. Bonar Law had never suggested that the decision of food taxes should be left to the colonies, and never proposed to abdicate responsibility. The British Government must owe the British people only. He pointed out that the situation had largely changed since Mr. Chamberlain made "his proposals. It "was now impossible to introduce Imperial preference without protracted consultation with the colonies, who, he said, "wished to tell us authoritatively "what they consider vital in carrying out the policy." • The newspapers give prominence to the dissentions of the Unionists in connection with food taxes. The Liverpool Courier, a Conservative organ, states that the Unionist party is drifting to destruction, and demands a conference of the London and the Lancashire leaders anent the referendum.

The Yorkshire Post deplores the abandonment of the, referendum, which would have enabled many Liberals to vote with the Unionists, and enable the party to proceed with forms commanding general assent. The Morning Post strongly advocates food taxes. Other Unionist papers are ignoring the question, hoping thereby to heal the dispute. .The Times continues to advocate the abandonment of food taxes. Under existing circumstances reciprocal preference can well be established without them. The Westminster Gazette sums up •the situation by saying that the Birmingham prty urges* that food taxes are essential in London. It says that food -taxes should not be pressed. Mr. Garvin, editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, makes sensational attacks on Lord Northcliffe.' It blames the Times for following the Daily Mail's repudiation of food duties and attributes the prodigious business commitments. It declares that he has no time for the consecutive study of politics, yet behind •the national scenes is exercising irresponsible despotism, which no sane society should allow a man to possess. It adds that no meat trust ia so dangerous as this press trust. The Capetown Argus says that Mr. Bonar Law's speech was a' tactical error. It does, not believe that any dominion would ask for food duties if the British workers resent them. The Johannesburg Star, a progressive organ, is> imbued with the conviction that Mf. Bonar Law's proposals will lead to enornous mutual benefits. PRESS CRITICISM. London. December 20. The Times' Toronto correspondent says the British people of the Imperial vince the British people of the Imperial valuejof preference, and not impose the responsibility of advocating the policy upon the oversea dominions.

, The Chronicle publishes the views of ; Messrs. Fisher, Deakin, Hughes and Millen on Mr. Bonar Law's proposals. The piper, commenting on their statements, -Bays they hesitate to declare themselves as emphatically as the Canadians regarding the friction and danger to Empire unity from the proposal, but thev do not gee any practical purpose in the ~ new Tory dodge.