IMPERIAL TRADE RECIPROCITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 637, 14 October 1909, Page 3

IMPERIAL TRADE RECIPROCITY.

Sir,—ln- view •of your criticism of (my remarks, made at the Into Sydney' Congresson the resolution • proposed by, the I/>iidon Chamber of' Commerce on' the question of' preferential. tradet'vithin. the Empire, kindly allow me ; to state.-"what was really'said'on that'.occasion.; So . far no lair opportunity has been afforded me-of .doing 50.. : Stich .explanations, as . were made were given verbally on tho steamer before reaching' the, Wellington wharf,,and before I, knew the nature of your remarks. To yout criticism I offer no personal objection.- In this connection it is. usually better for a. man in a public position to be scourged than neglected, smitten than disregarded.- There -is another, tribunal which is' greater, more potent,, and frequently-more just than • the press, that of public opinion. -So far as my memory serves, assisted by . rough , notes,' I spoke. as follow;—. " • "I desire.on this important subject to voicothe attitude of., tho people of New Zealand. Tho motto of the Congress as displayed in tho hall should be amended, with the. addition of tho words 'one policy.' Tho-latter'in a commercial sense. As: to the policy of the, opon 1 door-in the rise and progioss of nations, the advance of civilisation has proved that the truest freedom has , been "attained within the limits of reasonable restrictions., In. discussing this great question, it was done on my part with considerable diffidence, for the simple reason that ill-reciprocity within the Empire the dependencies of Britain had everything to gain and nothing to lose. 'Further, had we the right' to dictate what should, he the fiscal'policy" of the United; Kingdom? The answer to . this was that the' Ddmiuion had given practical evidence •of its faith'in reciprocal trade by granting preference to Britain. Now with regard to the latter, tho rise or fall of. the head of the Empire meant to the oversea dominions either prosperity or, failure. The Pre"miers' Conference of n; few years ago; the Imperial Press Conference, and the present Imperial Conference on-Naval Defence—held with closed doors—demonstrated the fact that the dependencies of Britain had passed 'from infancy to manhood, and had the privilege and right to consultation on those far-reaching subjects, the consideration of which' were essential to the. common existence and welfare of, the Empire of which wo form a part." The above were my introductory remarks, and I.snbnjit there is in tho above no fulsome adulation of the Dominion and no glorification of : self. - Having tho honour to represent the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, which combines- the coirimorcial interests of the empire city,, and fortified by the action of the.people of New Zealand through its representatives who by!statute' some 'years- ago' gave' preference, to English-made goods as .against thoso manufactured in-foreign 'countries, a principle'reaffirmed on'the revision of tho tariff ' in ISO 7 by air increased measure of. preference," I was-justified in assuming that any-Now'Zet-land' representative who'spoke, in favour of tliij resolution 'Was perfectly within his rights in adopting the attitude I did. Further; it was arranged, that as time was . limited Mr. Marrinor and myself should speak on behalf of ] New Zealand. I had thorefore the,, authority to speak for the .Dominion as well as for Wellington. Tlio present Government .and no succeeding, Government dare repeal the statute now in force. This is not the thno.-nr. placo to-discuss the underlying principles of this important question, suffice ■ it to say, that if I read arignt, public opinion and sentiment, throo-quarters of the peoplo of New Zealand favour reciprocity within .the"Empire 'if it' can be given effect.toj- ' I. am, etc., . \ ! JOSEPH G. HARICKESS. ; October i. ~ [We. are not at all in disagreement with Mr. i Hnrknoss On tho general ground of the desiri nbleticss, of trade reciprocity within tho Emi pire,'and we have no doubt that ,he expressed i his views ably on this point. Our attitude, ; however, is that Now Zealand should not at- : teinpt to "demand" this reciprocity from the 1 Mother Country, for Reasons which wo .liavo; r explained.]:-- -- .■' - ,-