THE NEW POLICY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 908, 5 June 1903, Page 2

THE NEW POLICY.

MR K 1 NtISTON AND SIR E. BARTON ON THE SUBJECT. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. MELBOURNE. June I. Alt' Kingston, replying to Mr Bruce Smith. declared for pieiel'enl ial trade within the Empire, thinking it. might take the form of retaining duties against England, but increasing tin tariff against foreigners, it was their duly to help Imperial Ministers in every possible way, and let. them know that Australia supports and wishes them sueeess. Sir E. Barton stippli* l * l 'he following It. is certain that unless Britain armed herself with povv to meet by retaliation ihe tiseal Mlacks I>v foreigners on the colonies

or herself, and was prepared to exercise such powers, closer fiscal relations within thi' Empire by way of a tariff of preference would he difficult, if tail impossible. This method, re-establishing swell relations, has been characterised as arlilieial and unnatural , hut, ti the Empire was to he viewed as a whole, it was hard to discover the meaning or justice of such epithets. lie was strongly in favor of making arrangements by which the trade between the various parts of tiie Empire and Hie Mother Country may be distinctly favored and developed, subject, to the continued freedom of each sell-governing part, with regard to its own fiscal policy. Under such conditions preferential arrangements would ,'ink otilv lie more practicable, bill a great deal easier to bring about, and their accomplishment, would he of enormous advantage to the Empire.”