IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2681, 10 December 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

HOW THE UNIONISTS GAN WJN

United Press Association—Coptuight. • LONDON, Dec. 8. The “Birmingham Post” publishes an outline' of a scheme which it is believed will be adopted by a Unionist Cabinet if they win the election. ' A general tariff' will be established on all goods not deemed raw "material. There is no intention to have multifarious rates'which will throw open the door to Parliamentary intrigue and lobbying. Goods upon which little labor has been expended will have a tariff of 5 per cent.; nearly finished goods, 10 per cent. ; completely manufactured, 15 per cent.; foreign corn, 2s per quarter. On colonial corn substantial preference will be allowed, but possibly not the whole 2s. There will be three scales in each of the three rates . of duty. The maximum will remain in abeyance for two years to give time for friendly negotiations with foreign Powers. It is estimated that such a tariff will produce 16 to 20 millions. MR. JOHN BURNS. Mr. John Burns has broken his long silence by speaking at Battersea. The borough, he said, would never recover from the stigma if they rejected him. He has been Ijard at work on the Housing Bill, and now shows an energy which has astonished liis constituency. Mr. A. Emmott, Liberal member for Oldham, speaking at Oldham, said the present gave a great chance to have a written constitution to which they might add something like a referendum or a methodi whereby the people would be able to give a direct mandate. Though Mr. John Burns attacked the House of Lords, he did not refer to the Budget. MR. WYNDHAM ON THE BUDGET. (Received December 9, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON,. Doc. 9. The Right Hon. George Wyndham, Conservative member for Dover, a it the Constitutional Club, declared that the real question, underlying the Government’s threat against the Lords was whether the electorates were to be committed to the policy of the Budget and against tariff reform, without having* an opportunity of saying which they preferred. The policy of tariff reform alone assured to the Empire the means of meeting the urgent needs of defence, employment and unity. He could hardly call the Budget a policy. It was a rehash of stale Cobdenism, spiced with a little Socialistic seasoning. RECOMMENDATION BY INLAND , REVENUE DEPARTMENT. The Inland Revenue Department suggests that bankers, coupon dealers, and agents entrusted with the payment of foreign and colonial dividends should continue to deduct income tax at the rate of 14d, pending the introduction of another Budget. Bankers and others are likely to adopt the recommendation.