DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 173, 22 July 1903, Page 5

DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE.

SPEECH IN OPPOSITION

(By Cable.—Press Association.

Copyright.)

(Received 7.57 a.m.)

LONDON, July 21

The Duke of Devonshire, Lord Presioent of the Council, speaking at the annual meeting of the British Empire League, held at the Mansion House, said that it was advisable, on the question of trade within the Empire, that the colonies and the Mother Country should each speak in the plainest possible terms. Starting as a colonial question, it had now reached the stage of becoming far more a matter of internal .British politics.

They could no longer question it as a matter of sentiment, but as one of practical business. If the Mother Country being induced to assent to any considerable changes in the fiscal arrangements, she must do it in her own interest, not simply as a means of conciliating the colonies. Since the colonial Premiers had initiated the new policy, presumably the colonies would cheerfully and, perhaps, enthusiastically accept it.

Hitherto the question has been very adequately discussed. Even from the colonial standpoint it was very easy to pass resolutions in favour of trade preference, but not so easy to prepare a scheme of preference l , admittedly fair and just to the Motherland and to each of the colonies. These advantages were only securable by means of something in the nature of a bargain to which each party was bound to adhere. It could hardly be doubted that the colonies would be called upon to surrender some independence, something of their perfect freedom of action in fiscal, commercial, and industrial legislation, to which hitherto they had attached great importance. Free trade within the Empire was a great, a magnificent, and a splendid ideal, but the Mother Country and the colonies approached it from different Standpoints.

Sir Edward Grey, speaking at the same meeting, said that he thought an Imperial Advisory Council such as Mr Halda ne had suggested would be useful in preventing Imperial issues becoming matter for controversial politics.