IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2710, 14 January 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

LORD ROTHSCHILD APOLOGISES TO LLOYD-GEORGE.

United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, Jan. 12.

Lord Rothschild has apologised to Mr. Lloyd-George for misquoting a speech about the prospective expulsion of Jews if the Unionists were returned.

TARIFF REFORM VERSUS FREE TRADE.

Lord George Hamilton, speaking at Ealing, said the Government had destroyed the freetrade system., and so mismanaged national finance by remitting taxation and piling np expenditure without means of meeting it, that •the old freetrade system was impossible. Mr. Balfour, speaking at Glasgow, said: “The system of treaties under the present fiscal regulations always tells against Britain. Though every treaty nominally .gives equal rights, it is so managed that the goods we are specially qualified to produce are subjected to heavier duties. Unless the British Foreign Minister has some of the weapons of negotiation which the others possess it is folly to expect to receive justice from European chancellories. The country is beginning to realise how much we are gaining by the Imperial preference extended by sister States more far-sighted than ourselves.”

Mr. Bonar Law, speaking at Dulwich, declared: “No one proposes protective taxation on foods. Mr. Chamberlain mentioned 2s a quarter on wheat. Our critics rejoin that Germany started with small duties, but forgot that in Germany, France, and America the agricultural population control the- politics, while the political power in England is in the hands of the towns.”

MORE INDEPENDENCE WANTED

Lord Rosebery, in a letter wishing success to Air. Cox, Independent candidate for Preston, declared: “There is no <place where independence is more needed or mere rare than in the House of Commons. Independence seems to be the most crying political need of the hour.”

AIR. BALFOUR ON TAXATION

(Received January 13. 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 13

Air. Balfour, speaking at Cork, favored broadening the basis of taxation, thereby getting the money necessary for the State with far less friction. A small duty on corn, with preference to the colonies, would diminish, rather than increase, the cost of bread. • He added r- “Taxation on the. necessaries of life shall not he proportionately increased. To that I pledge myself, wherein .bread, tea and tobacco are necessaries because they belong to the standard comforts upon which our people rightly insist. It is futile to talk of a cheap or a ; dear loaf without seeing that the trade routes whereby the food comes are guarded by an invincible fleet. The Government have admitted facts which condemned them as naval administrators.