FISCAL ISSUE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 5

FISCAL ISSUE.

SHIPPING SUBSIDIES FOR PREFERENCE. SUGGESTION TO LIBERALS. INTERESTING DEBATE IN THE LORDS. BY TELEGKAMI —PKESB ASSOCIATION—COPTKWBI. (Reo. May 22, 11.21 p.m.) London, May' 22. The tariff debate in tho House of. Lords was continued by Lord Avebury (banker and scientist), who declared that, if all the rest ef the world wore Protectionist, England would still be wiso to remain Frees Trade. Lord St. Aldwyn (formerly Sir' Michael Hicks-Beaclij Chancellor of the Exchequer in . the Balfour Government), disagreeing with tho thorough-going partisans on. either side, declared that something must be done to improve our relations with tho colonies. Tho feeling in favour of preference was growing both in tho colonies and in the Motherland. No wiso Government could neglect tho movement. Ho would not shrink from departing from strict Free Trade to obtain, if possible, closer relations with the colonies. Lord St. Aldwyn added: The Liberal Government was blameable for not offering at the last Imperial Conference to subsidise fast ocean services in return for a lowering of duties oh British goods, such lowering to extend to similar goods from rival countries. This would have been in accordance with Freo Trade, and Britain would have been able to beat, in what it manufactured, any other country in the colonial markets. After reviewing the practical difficulties involved in a policy of Imperial preference, Lord St. Aldwyn declared that a change of fiscal policy, if made, ought to be based not on tlie action of perhaps a fleeting majority whoso decision might bo reversed later — thus dealing a blow at the ties of affection and good will binding tho Motherla-nd and the 'colonies —but upon strong sentiment representing the feeling of the ivholo country.

Lord Lansdowne (Unionist Leader) declared that owing to the Government's negative attitude at the Imperial Conference, the colonies had begun to travel their own road. The Franco-Canadian commercial agreement was. the first stage of that journey.

The Earl of Crewo, Secretary for the Colonies, said it was impossiblo' to consider the question of colonial preference iii a vacuum. It was part of* a change so farroaching that its effects wore hardly calculable. Its adoption might moan a leap into the ravino of Protection.

The motion in favour of tariff reform — moved |by the Duke of Marlborough—was ultimately withdrawn.

REVENUE PROBLEM. FREE TRADE EQUAL TO THE TASK. 'PROTECTION OF HOPS. : . London, May 21. Mr. Asquith, Prime Minister, speaking at the Reform Club, ridiculed the idea' of tho imposition of forty, shillings duty on hops, which would be 90 per cent, on raw material. Ho declared ho was confident Free Trade would be adequate to meet old ago pensions. "INSULAR PREJUDICE." "THE TIMES"' ON LOItD CROMER! . London, May 21. ■'The Times" gays that Lord Cromer, in !mocking .the minute classification of the Australian tariff, mocks . the practice of every commercial nation , exoept Britain. This is carrying insular prejudice rather far.