consider favourably any form of Colonial Preference or
any measures for closer commercial union of the Empire on
a preferential basis." (Mr. Lyttelton.)

This was met on behalf of the Government by the following
Amendment:

"To leave out all after the word 'that' and add the words
'In the opinion of this House, the permanent unity of the
British Empire will not be secured through a system of
preferential duties based upon the protective taxation of
food.'" (Mr. Soares)

The vote of censure was rejected, and the Amendment carried
by 404 to 111.


A vote of censure is a very serious thing. When it is moved with great
formality on behalf of the official Opposition, it is intended always
to raise a plain and decisive issue. I must, however, observe that of
all the votes of censure which have been proposed in recent times in
this House, the one we are now discussing is surely the most curious.
The last Government was broken up three years ago on this very
question of Imperial preference. After the Government had been broken
up, a continuous debate proceeded in the country for two years and a
half, and it was terminated by the general election. This Parliament
is the result of that election, and there is not a single gentleman on
this Ministerial Bench who is not pledged, in the most specific terms,
not to grant a preferential tariff to the Colonies. Now, because we
have kept that promise, because we are opposed to preferential