AN INSTALMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 25, 24 October 1907, Page 5

AN INSTALMENT.

DISCUSSION.ON COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE.

ELEVEN PER CENT. ADVANTAGE. MR. REID IRONICAL. OY TELEGRAM—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COriRIGHT. Melbourne, October 23. In the course of a debato on the tariff in tlio Fedora! House, an amendment moved by Mr. P. ?il. Glynn (a South Australian frectrattor member), to oxciso the preferential rate on candles, raised a discussion on preferential trade.

NOT IN THE , NATURE OF A BARGAIN. .'Sir William Lyno, Federal Treasurer, said tho promise of the Government on tho question of preference.had been honestly carried out iiv the tariff schedule. Owing to tho combination of the press and tho existence, of a cable syndicate, Australia received from Great Britain only news which had bcc:i consorod by that syndicato or its representatives in London. Tlio reported feeling of Britain against preference did not exist, and other statements made- woro'not a true representation of British feeling to-day. Tho preferential proposals of .the- Federal Government woro not intended to he regarded as hi tho naturo of a bargain, although, he admitted ho would like to, see tho treatment reciprocated. ■.. ■ . . . NOT MYTHICAL. The preference offered, continued the Minister, was not of tlio mythical nature somo members ■ affected to believe. If tho result was only to transfer V or oven one-third'; of our foreign trado lj Britain, it' would forward'the interests of tho Empire. The tariff would offer a preference of eleven per cent, in favour of Britain, added tho speaker. That was a very considerable preference. Ho could not see why Britain should not admit Australian wines free or nearly free. Such a policy would not raiso the price of bread or anything else to tho people

Tho Right Hon. G. H. Reid,: Loader of tho Opposition, condoinned tho Government's preferbneo, in ironical terms. ECHO OF THE CONFERENCE. Tho Prime Minister (Mr; Deakin) repudiated tho insinuation that ho had boon in relationship with tho present Opposition in Englandj directly or indirectly. It was becauso of the closed doors of the, Imperial Conference, said the Premier, that ho and his colleagues had turned to, open doors. If ever thoro was a body that had a right to appeal to the pooplo it was that conference. Unless it took place in full sight of tho pooplo of England and Australia, it would fail in ifc-t aim, and it had failed in its aim. >. Anyoiio who would refer to the speeches' niado afemtsido gathoi'ings would find thoy wero on subjects treated by <tho conference, so that, with out any. breach of confidence, something was given to tho public of what was taking placo.

MEAN INC LESS RESOLUTION. So strong, however, was tho " Littlo. Englander." iceling that it was only at the last minute,'after having shut, •• banged, and barred,tho door against Imperial union for Imperial ends, that an offer, was made to p.ccept a meaningless resolution,, which they declined to take, 'as to an, " all-rod ". mail route. Although our interests were small, ho had supported it on account, of its Imperial .character, 'in conclusion, Mr. Deakin said : ho believed' that; tho preference proposal, incpmpleto as it. was, ajid immature as it .must ;be, was tho best that could, bo done, aud ho regarded it in tho sense of-an instalment. Mr. Glynn's amendment was withdrawn. "not Worth'a food tax." opinion of the british prime ■ ' ■•■: minister.' (Reo. Oct. 23, 10.37 p.m.) : London, Octobor 23..

■ ■Itiithq courso of. his speech at DuiiformHne, tho Prime Minister (Sir. Henry Campbellincidentally remarked 'that, tho results of the English tariff.reformers'efforts, so far as they had appeared, especially in Australia, woro hardly worth a tax on Britain's,untaxed food. , :• . ..' ;

■■■■■ : - I'ItKraRBNCE-CUMrPIiOTECTION.V'. - :• Sydney, October 23. Tho Conference of- Chambers of Manufacturers -adopted resolutions iu favour of efficient ' protection: to all Australian industries, and of preference to Britain. '' • ■ ' ; ' (_ Melbourne, October 23. - The House lias , resumed , the discussion on profqrorico. ' ' ■ ■ ■

Tho resolution of the Imperial Conference referred to'bvJlr. Deakin reads:—" That the ■ Conference is of opinion that, tho interests uf tho Empire demand that as far ds practijiMe its diflerent portions should bo by the best possible "• means of mail communication travel, and transportation. That it is advisable that Great Jiritain should bu n-itirCnnnda, and'through Canada with Australia and New Zealand, by the best sorrice available within reasonable cost, lhat, foltho purpose of carrying the above project into effect, such iinaucial ;, support as ■ .nuy :be necessary should bu contributed by Qmat Britain, Canada, Australia, and Now Zenlnil, in equitable portions." ■ Tho British Government's Comnutteo..that.was. appointed to consider the'All-Bed route ,• scheme has not yet reported' In July. Mr. Lloyd-George denied that it had decided >against the scheme. Latolv Sir Wilfrid' Laurier declared: "The All-Red lino shall, must, will, succeed.'