TARIFF REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 190, 31 December 1912, Page 5

TARIFF REFORM.

AGGRESSIVE CRITICISM. TIIE FOOD TAXES. By Cable—Press Association—Copyri^h f ,. London, December 2!). The Daily Telegraph has joined forces with s tlie London and provincial Unionist press, urging that next election should not be obscured by the question of food taxes.

Tho Daily Telegraph, after quoting Hie opinions of Australian newspapers, declares, that the Dominions' objection to bearing the onus of an unpopular decision raises serious problems. The Unionist leaders would be tho first to agree that this is no time for Imperial misunderstanding. They ought.to make clear that in the proposed conference no Dominion will be asked to express an opinion in favour of food taxes in, Britain. If the duties are necessary to the Imperial preference scheme then Britain should freely offer them. Mr. . Bonar Law proposes to seek a. man- ■ date, but the overwhelming Unionist opinion is that after the introduction of the question by an appeal to the country tho first duty of Unionists is to fight the next election upon the Government's political profligacy, and that anything detracting from that course ought to be eliminated. The Observer urges Unionists unflinchingly to insist on a united Empire. Mr. Bonar Law's speech, says the Observer, was somewhat misunderstood, and equally inexcusably misrepresented. Anything in the way of preference will be of advantage to the Empire. Mr. Austin Chamberlain, writing to a correspondent, says "it is obvious that consultation with the Dominions will be necessary, before dealing with the details of preference. We have no more pretension to fix colonial duties than the Dominions have to fix ours, but I believe that a commercial union would be mutually advantageous." The Spectator says, that the latest estimates of Unionist members and candidates anxiou.-' to press for food taxes show that tliet are reduced to 'a bare handful. , •