IMPERIAL TOPICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 159, 5 July 1917, Page 10

IMPERIAL TOPICS.

LEADERS' SPEECHES DEBATED. PREFERENCE AXD FEDERATION**. MEMBERS VENTILATE OPINIONS. Illy Telegraph. —railiauientai-y l.eporler.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday. To-day's sitting of tlie House of Representatives was devoted to discussion of Imperial question* suggested to member- by the speeches delivered yesterday >:\ th: Preni' r and Minister «.f Finan'.e. ' Mr. Wilford. who opened the debate, sail that th" Imperial Conference had given us a voice in the counsels of England, and our voice could be heard atrainst allowing tbe enemy to _ -t a foot/ins: in the Western Pacific. We would have to pay our share for Imperial defence, and there must In- a liseal policy to meet the needs of Empire unity, and give preferential treatment for British products from all parts of the Empire. Mr. Malcolm suggested that the biggest obstacle to an Imperial tariff was the English Parliament, which had never allirnied such a principle. Neither would colonial producers !*■ inclined to do anything which would raise the cost of food to the British working man. New Zealand would Ik- unlikely to alter its tarill" so as to make competition of even British goods more severe upon local product*. Dr. A. K. Newman expressed the opinion that as \">-w Zealand >kis a demo[cratic coiintrv our representative on the I Imperial Cabinet would he elected by |the people lie bad ini-n born and bred a free trader, hut for Imperial interests be was prepared to abandon that idea, j Tho Empire must become independent for its food supplies. If we eoul.l get n tariff jurraugement with the I'nited States, Iwhioh would, provide practically Free J Trade \\ it Ii that eount;y. it would be a great advantage. 1 Mr. Isitt was very mueli afraid that I there was a jii-eat danger ..f sacrificing I Imperial Fed, rat ion by a demand for an ; Imperial preferential tariff. J BRITAIN'S SELF RELIANT POLICY. i Mr. Poole said a magnificent feature of Britain's regeneration was her selfreliant policy. Tbe blast of war bad 'withered , oiiserxat ism. and developed I self-reliance in tlie I>M Country. If we 'were going to exact the last portion of a peniiv from Britain ill ber extremity. I the time would surclv conic when she would do without our products. lie ,otild see standardisation of production j it., such an extent, in tlie Britain of tbe ■future that she would lie able to ilisI lienor with those • otintrirs on whom she was now de, lent for suppli.-. He bcllieveil in this respect that Britain could now more than hold her own against I competitors in supplying manufactures !to liriti-h Dominions. DEPLETION OK OCR MANHOOD. i Tie Prime Minister and Minister for I'.nanic must not look lor big emigra- . tin from Britain to this country. He I was po-itve they would nut etnigTHie, and it wa-. therefore, worthy t,. cons;.ler our outlook if we persisted in depleting tin- eotintrv of tlie p. line of ltiinnhood. We w.-'i c not goin". to be I, i mpen-ated fur that loss by nil,* pro ' -pert of immigi.Bits from Britain. .Hear. THE MEROEB. ! The Minister went on to deplore Hie ' merging ul" the l'nion ( .unpuny with the !P. and (l. Company, and (Irea a graphic ! inline of the Meet which was now the Iplide of New Zealand falling under the j control of a company which would have mo regard for the convenience of New ! Zealand people, but would be In the I position of squeezing us as they liked. j and i.i bringing crews under a lower I scale ( .f pay than at present obtains 1 ur-dei- Dominion control. Mr. Poole. i who made a stirring speech, was heartily ! applauded at it- conclusion. ; Mi. Payne declared that the war i found ii- to b" no! a n.iti f patriot-. i : iit a nation of proliterrs. bleeders, and heches. determined lo _•-. all th- niouey ,ue .-.mid out of the war. He ntrotij.lv : 111-tre.i. ill the interest- of trade development, the total elimination of private l-ient bad realised what was due to the dependents ~l soldiers who had madthe real sacrilice. it would have commandeered all products and -old them jat pre-war price*. PRIME MINISTER REPLIK*". Mr. Massey. replying at 10..-JO p.m.. said, i-c'.-arding the question of preference, that be did not agree with the view that preference would mean inereascd cost of living. The result of ip.cferenec would undoubtedly be to ill-

crease the supply of primary products, but when tin- supply came up to the demand, there would 'he no increase ill the pi i.e. lie believed preference would tend towards making the Knipire selfcontained and -elf-supporting. The i nited Mates was an example of a country looking after its own interests, and. though he did not advocate following ber lead exactly, we should take a leaf from her book. "I do not «ny I am a Pioteetionist now." added Mr. Massey. ■ but 1 do say I believe preference win help us more than anything else iv the way of keeping the ' Knipire together. and in building up our industries and tilling our waste places." iliear. hear.) Keferring to the present efficiency of tiie British Fleet, the Premier mentioned having seen .some of tbe new liritish battle-cruisers, of wliich much could not at present be said for that reason they were called the "Hush" class of cruisers—and all he couhl say was that nothing like them had ever been seen afloat, lie gathered the impression that numbers of British soldiers had heard from colonials of the conditions in the colonies, anil would determine to make a r.rw start in a new country. There would he heavy emigration, and NewZealand, be hoped, would get its share. The debate concluded at n.."i p.m.. and the House adjourned.