PREFERENTIAL TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 12026, 26 October 1903, Page 7

PREFERENTIAL TRADE

"Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

WHAT IRELAND WOULD GAIN.

THE FREE FOOD LEAGUE

PREFER MR BALFOUR'S PLAN

LONDON, October 24. Mr J. B. Lonsdale (C), addressing his constituents at Armagh, warmly supported Mr Chitmberlam's policy, which he said was calculated to greatly improve Ireland's prospects, and would substitute mixed farming for the present too exclusive reliance on stock-raising. Before long the present Government would have a great majority, and the people would range themselves on the side of Mr Chamberlain.

THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE. THE RIVAL POLICIES REVIEWED. LONDON. October 25. The Unionist Free Food League have elected the Duke of Devonshire president and Lord Goichen, Sir M. Hicks-Beach, and Mr Ritchie vice-presidents. The League approved of a statement declaring their willingness to consider in a friendly, loyal spirit Mr Balfour's plan, but declaring that Mr Chamberlain's policy to raise the price of food would injure some trades by lessening the purchasing power, and that the harassing interference inseparable from a Customs tariff embracing a great number of articles would raise the price of partly-manu-factured imports for many of ihe best paid industries, thereby increasing the cost cf production and impairing Britain's power of competing with foreign rivals. The statement also declares that the nature and value of the suggested t/donial preference are undefined. All that is known ist that the colonial inanufacturer would still be protected against the British, though the British farmer would not be protected against the colonial, and as a result would suffer all the disadvantages of an Imperial Zollverein and secure none of the gams. It adds that little attention is paid to the needs of India or other possessions whose tariffs arc not protective, md concludes: ''-If Mr Chamberlain's principles are accepted by the electorates the .Manufacturing and producing interests will .leeafter endeavor to obtain the jrrotection of their own industries, and disregard the general welfare of the country." MR GLADSTONE ON RETALIATION. MR ASQUITFTS DISMAL VIEW. LONDON, October 25. (Received October 26, at 8.35 a.m.) Mt Asquith, irt declared that the policy 'of retaliation was summed up in Mr Gladstone's phrase : "'lf someone smites you on one cheek you smite yourself on the other." Mr Asquith said: " Think of the rivalry and competitive chaos in Mr Chamberlain's conference of trades. Each representative would be puttiie:- forward his minimum Preference views. The evolving of a tariff establishing even Preference for all the colonies was vi'ic. The proposal was a gigantic experiment in political vivisection of that complex organisation the British Empire's trade."

lONORING PACTS. BRITAIN'S EXPORT AND HOME TRADE. LONDON, October 25. 'Received October 26, at 8.18 a.m.) ' The Times' say* that the crave omissions of the Unionist Free Food muuifeao 'letraet greatly from its argumentative vahie. It omits to take any heed of the trade difficulties of the country, and dees im<: recognise the stagnation of the export trado (except to tie colonies) or the invasion of the home market by foreign era, and the consequent great loss of employment, while ir- does not deal with, the fact that the colonies are anxious for a commercial union. WANTED, EQUALITY OF CONDITIONS A FEW FACTS. LONDON, October 25. Mr Wyndhttm, speaking at Dover, said 'hat England ought to have liberty of ncuotiation in regard .to tariff question;-;, x> ;: = to be enabled to hit back if hit, and to protect the wage-earners at Home and in the colonies. Freetrade England had a population of 43,000,000. wb.De her throe principal competitors had populations of 80, 100, and 120 millions respectively.