Parliament's Week

(British Commonwealth of Nations)

House of Commons. In spite of the fact that the Conservatives, joined by 18 Liberals and 5 Laborites, voted solidly for Imperial preference, 4 of the resolutions passed by the Imperial Conference (TIME, Oct. 1 et seq.) were defeated:

Resolution to admit Empire dried fruits free, defeated by 6 votes.

Resolution to increase the preference on Empire tobacco, defeated by 13.

Resolution to reduce the duty on Empire wines, defeated by 17.

Resolution to stabilize the preference on Empire sugar, defeated by 20.

There were six more resolutions, but because the above four had been defeated it was decided not to proceed with them.

Many were the absentees both from the Labor and Liberal Parties --the most conspicuous of whom was ex-Premier Lloyd George. It was stated that he held himself bound by his declarations as head of the Coalition Government (1916-21) not to oppose the first four resolutions, but he announced that he would vote against the remaining six. Chancellor Philip Snowden, defending the Government, twitted Mr. George upon 'his absence. Said he: "The right honorable gentleman has evidently come to the conclusion that the Empire might be served by a tax on tinned crabs."

He held that it was fundamentally wrong to tax food and stated that his budget (TiME, May 12) had been introduced with a view to the abolition of all food taxation. If the preference resolutions were passed, said he, "taxation on food would have to be increased, because the Dominions could not supply the demand in the British Isles." He informed the House, however, that he was negotiating with the Dominion Governments' proposals for a permanent economic council "to increase the consumption of Dominion foodstuffs in Britain."

Mr. Snowden concluded: "We lost one Empire by taxing the colonies for the benefit of the mother country, and if this policy were adopted we should run a grave risk of losing another Empire by taxing the mother country for the benefit of the Dominions."