TARIFF REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 199, 11 January 1913, Page 5

TARIFF REFORM.

CONSERVATIVE POLICY CHANGED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London, January I). Practically all the Unionist members of Parliament, apart from the front benches, are signing a memorial affirming their be'iief in Imperial preference and unabated confidence in Mr. Bonar Law's leadership. They consider that the best interests of the party (vonld he consulted if the food duties were removed from the questions submitted at the next election. The Daily Mail says that Mr. Austin Chamberlain's tact and goodwil', have removed the risk of a division of the party. Several newspapers represent that the Unionists' memorial expresses the hope of a colonial conference, and decides that a tax on food be not imposed heforc a general election.

PRES CRITICISM. MR. BONAR LAW'S RESIGNATION. A DIVIDED PARTY. Received 10, 10.35 p.m. London, December 10. The Morning Post states that when it became evident that the bulk of the Unionists were unwilling to accept the policy enunciated in his Ashton speech by Lord Lansdowne, Mr. Bonar Law intimated his intention to resign. The policy was previously endorsed by all the front-benchers in the House of Commons and ex-members of the Cabinet in the House of Lords, who are, therefore, debarred from accepting the leadership. When the crisis became known the back-bench Unionists drew up a memorial, which 200 have now signed. It is still doubtful whether Mr. Bonar Law is willing to withdraw his resignation.

The Daily News declares that the memorial is a long and complex document, but its contents are strictly secret. The Express protests against the Daily Mai' interpreting the memorial as the deatli blow to food taxes'.

The Times states that the crisis over the leadership is now a thing of the past. The Standard states that it believes that Mr. Bonar Law now recognises that the memorial has eased the party's position, and that he will be able to continue the leadership in the circumstances with greater confidence.