SIR E. BARTON ON COHESION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11589, 21 May 1903, Page 5

SIR E. BARTON ON COHESION.

THE EXAMPLE OF CANADA. A FEASIBLE SCHEME. MELBOURNE, May 20. Sir E. Barton has cabled the following remarks on Mr Chamberlain's speech to London:-—"! fail to see why all the friends of cohesion in the Empire should not agree with Mr Chamberlain's utterances. For tho first time it is laid down by a powerful British Minister that the United Kingdom ought not to stand by and see any part cf Greater Brtain punished by foreigners for preferring their kinsmen, that the interest 3 of the partners in tho Empire are paramount over fiscal theories, ond that threats of retaliation made on the assumption of a contrary view, would bo idle vapourings if the whole Empire were prepared to defend its cohesion in trade as well as in territory. The principle is not affected because in its application we cannot ignore the fact that the great colonies like Canada and Australia must necessarily raise large customs revenues, and at the same, time protect their own industries. Within the operation of that necessity there is room for trade preferences in the production- of the Empire, whether in food (supply or in finished manufactures. It is idle to say that preference, to be effective, must amount to the prohibition of foreign imports. That Canada's preference policy has been effective, and may be more so, Germany admits b'- her threats, yet Canada does not by any means prohibit importation from Germany."