THE TARIFF QUESTION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12503, 26 May 1906, Page 5

THE TARIFF QUESTION.

UNION FAVOURS PREFERENCE. Mr J. C. N. Grigg (Ashbui'ton) moved—"That, with a view of festering closer relation* with the Home Land, this branch is strongly of opinrion, tun; in any ix.-v.sion of tno N\w Zealand tariff the que lion of preference shou.d always take a ioremofrt pebition." Mr Grigg said ihi« question would have more w,dc-reaciiiirg efL.stw than any o her the Union iou:d take up. Ho thought they would receive assistance from the Premier, who always claimed that ho woo one cf the leacing spirits in tho Imperial movement. Mr Cham'erlain's sciienie was- a splendio. one, and it wan no new thing .ro.iily, as Dtsratdi, sixty-lour years ago, and Bismarck, when lie amalgamated the States of Germany, voiced the same idea. At the conc.usion of n-fl spleni did address on that occa 'o.t, Bismarck said : " England will have to return to some form of protection to her commerce, if only to save her own home trade." That was air example cf wonderiii! foresight. Mr Grigs went on I to urge that the colonies rhou!d give I England prefen-'nee, so ar> to assist her I against th'.> outside world, where walls of pr'-tec':on w re rai od dngain t );«r. Chamberlain wr.a defeated only ibecaiue of tho Sear that food was to bo taxed. Ho would :;ke to see the British artipnn agreeing to a small preference on col.in'al goods, but in any case New Zealand's great natural advantages in the way of climate would enable her to hold her own. The time wrs coming when Mr Chamber- ' lain's idea would be 'carried j into effect: already Mr John I Morley, the Liljeral of the Libenls. hnd come round to the opinion that retaliation was necessary. The • fanners were bound up with this matter, and he hoped to see. them fighting for it. Mr iA'.l M-onded the motion, which he was confident was in ths right direction. Mr Leadlry r-uppor'ed tb* motion. Mr Chamhoilain was right when he urged them to think Imperially; but unfortunately there had b:»en a tendency in some parts cf the co'ony towards a very contracted outlook. At a recent Industrial Conference in Christ-church, one man had cot up and said his motto was "New Zealand for tho New Zealandera every time, and let Iho British look after themselves;" and that was the only remark which W3«< greeted with arplauso. That seeme<l a poor commentary on the inMhgenco ot the sre-k?r in_ quel on, and those who app'a-nded. What would H-. tl ia rei-ii ! r if ' : ra' llritnin left thi» far-off land t.-v itself? It would mean ' national bankruptcy for ths c lony. ! He did not think Britain's supremacy in manufacturing could continue, on ac-

count of industrial evolution, but th:» country could her by helping to consume her products, and teeing that thev were carried in British ships. Mr H. T. Cooper supported tlie motion, which, he said, would act as a reminder to the Parliament. Mr G. Sheat al.-o spr.ko in favour of the motion. They would stand by England every time, and they expected England to stand'by them. They wore hound together as a whole, and tiiiii was .1 step in tlie right direction. The motion was then carried unanimously. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr J. C. N. Grigg was appointed to represent the Executive on the Colonial Council in Wellington. Mr J. A. Pannett was elected treasurer for the ensuing year. The following; were appointed to the Executive:— Messrs D. Jones. M. P. Ryan, J. A. Pannett, O. F. Clothier. H.'T. Cooper, R. Evans, W. Hall, G. W. Holland, T. B. Howson, C. Judge, G. W. Loadlev. W. T. Lill, R, WX Lockhead, G. Scott. G. Sheat, and \V. Witte. A report from tho organiser, Mr J. W. Bradley, concerning the work of tlie year, was taken in committee. On resuming, it was re]K>rted that the following had been, appointed a deputation, namely, Messrs 11. Evans, J. O'Halloran, and J. G. A. Ruddenklau, with the organiser, to wait upon the Rangiora branch, with a view to reviving interest in the Union in that district. ft was resolved to voto the secretary, Mr W. F. Hilson, an honorarium of £5 in addition to lus usual salary. Mr G. Sheat (Dunsandel) moved a hearty voto of thanks to the Christchurch newspapers for tho admirable manner in which they had reported the proceedings of tho Conference. The Press was now recognising the Union in its true and the leading artido in the Christchurch "Press" 'that morning spoke for itself. Mr O'Halloran Seconded the motion, and expressed warm appreciation of the local papers. The motion was carried. This conclude:! the ordinary business of the Conference. In the afternoon, the delegates sat in committee to rcc?ive a deputation from the Employers' Association, in can- i nection with the following remit, moved by Mr G. Sheat:—"That th ; « Conference take into consideration, in committee, the question of this Union appointing delegates to confer with tho Farm Labourers' Union on labour questions, should occasion arise."