The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1902.

Evening Star, Issue 11609, 20 June 1902, Page 4

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1902.

Th>i speech delivered by Mr Seddon at the New Zealand banquet in Br Swtilon London appears to have been on eminently characteristic iu

A’«w Zealand, that it was of considerable

length, crammed with statistics, end animated by a set purpose—namely, the forwarding of his views relative to the establishment of preferential duties between the Mother Country and the colonies. The right honorable gentleman has a very determined mind, which has conduced much to his political success, and he will not be deterred, by the proceedings in the House of Commons on Mr Motley’s amendment for the rejection of the com duties, from pressing his proposals on the approaching Conference between the Colonial Premiers and His Majesty's Ministers. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, it may be noted, absolutely repudiates the idea which has been promulgated that the imposition of the small duty on cereals, which formed part of his Budget proposals, had any connection whatever with the subject of preferential duties, or was intended to pave the way for material alteration of the fiscal policy of the country. The duties, he said, were to be levied solely for revenue purposes—practically as a war tax. As representing the mind of the English Cabinet, the Chancellor does not hold out the slightest hope of their adoption of different*! duties in favor of the colonies, which he conceives would be against the principle of Frectrade, and play mischief with the great trade of the country, for the sako of a relatively small one. The gist of Mr Seddon’s proposal is that the colonies should enact preferential tariffs by way of rebate on goods from the Homo Country imported in British-owned vessels, Great Britain granting, on her part, remission of duty on colonial produce at present dutiable. This would, of course, very seriously affect the foreign trade of Great Britain, and for a time at least raise the price of much raw material used in her principal manufactures. As regards New Zealand, one effect would be to raise a protective barrier against imports from foreign countries, which, however, are inconsiderable except in the case of the United States of America, from which the value of imports has very largely increased of late years, and amormted last year to nearly a million and a-half, owing, by the way, in no slight degree to the Government placing orders for railway construction material and rolling stock in that country which might have been supplied from Home. Mr Seddon, as a proof that there was no underlying motive in his proposals, and that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was correct in his declaration that the com duties were introduced without regard, direct or indirect, to the possibilities of the adoption of those proposals, referred to his communication on the subject to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in December last. He held strong opinions, he said, in favor of Fairtrade. On such an occasion as the banquet, and the magnificence of his reception thereat by leading men of and connected with New Zealand, it must bo accorded to Mr Seddon that he did not exceed reasonable latitude in the eulogistic terms in which he spoke of the Colony. In thena, it is worthy of note, he echoed the expressed opinion of Lord Onslow, by no means a gushing or imaginative person, and perfectly independent of New Zealand influences, whilst thoroughly familiar with local conditions. There are always to be found “evil birds that foul their own nests,” and it may bo expected that Mr Seddon’s statements as to the progress and general prosperity of the hountry will be challenged in soma quarters at Home and in the Colony. The Wellington Trades and Labor Council are already to the fore in this direction, and yesterday evening discussed a notice to the effect that a cable be sent to the London Trades Council denying Mr Seddon’s statements. No decision, however, it is reported, was arrived at, and the meeting, says the telegram, “ended in uproar,” which was perhaps just as well. Mr Seddon certainly scored in his reference to the Pacific Islands and the policy of British annexation, which he has so strongly advocated, and assisted in carrying out. The speech of the United States Secretary of the Treasury, from which he quoted, although repudiated by the President, is a distinct warning to the Imperial Government as to the ambitions of the Great Republic and the desire of her leading statesmen to “transfer the sovereignty of “the Pacific from the Union Jack to the “ Stars and Stripes.’’ Whatever may bo the opinion with regard to Mr Seddon’s New Zealand home policy, general satisfaction must assuredly 1)0 felt that the affairs of the Colony in Imperial relations, commercial and political, are at the present juncture in his capable hands. We venture to predict that although he may not fully succeed in obtaining the adoption of the preferential tariff, he will not. come oat altogether second at the forthcoming Conference. He will a-,-uredly make his individuality felt, and keep New Zealand well to the front, as lie Ins already effectually done in regard to Sou tli Africa.