CONFERENCE OF FREE TRADE UNIONISTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 7731, 3 July 1903, Page 2

CONFERENCE OF FREE TRADE UNIONISTS.

Received 3, 0.3Q a.m. LONDON, July 2. Mr H. Hobhouse, M.P., presiding at 9, meeting of 54 free trade Unionist Commoners, explained that his aim was to assist the Government, and ensure a frank and fair enauiry by the committee . appointed to examine the probable effect of the suggested changes on the unity of the Empire, a&d the social and industrial welfare of the United Kingdom, and to explain to the country the objections to protective taxation of imports. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, late Chancellor of the Exchequer, stated the mooting wished to save the party from a crushing defeat. The conference of Unionists on the 24th ult. was evidently organised by protectionists. Mr Chamberlain's scheme, if adopted, would provoke a strong struggle- betweon colonial and home interests. Ho criticised the proposals with a view to showing the impracticability of compensating consumers for increased cost of food by readjusting duties on tea, sugar, and tobacco. Lord Goschen doubted whether Mr Chamberlain would be able to sweep the cpuntry with so many Unionist Uipmbjsvs agftinst him. He denounced .Mr Chainberlaiw's fiacal policy as most dangerous, and urged the necessity of restricting the inquiry to statistical -information having the Government stamp, private compilation not being sufficient authority. The Liberal free trade Commoners have formed a committee with colleagues assoc ated with commerce to secure adequate ventilation of their views connected with the present controversy. Received 3, 8.14 a.m.

LONDON, July. 2. Iho Riorht Hon. H, Asquith (formerly Liberal Home Secretary) in moving at the National Liberal Federation a resolution to the effect that Mr Chamberlain's scheme woufd endanger Britain's relations with tho colonies, and threaten the Empire's stability, protested against the use of a rusty blunderbuss retaliation, and urged his countrymen to choose tho weapons of prccisjdu, wh>h science has formed, and placo British on an equality with Germans in being able to handle aims, which \yco truly quick fiio and long range, in the modem industrial campaign. What colonies would fail to purpose frpm Britain, would probably cp.nsist;Qf commodities the Motherland was unable to Supply, Preference would excite mutual jealousies among j tho colonies, and lead to taxing all raw materials coining to England. Mr Birrcll, in moving a resolution) calling- on the Government to declare its fiscal policy, said that a Government without a fiscal policy was unfit | p remhin 'in p'flice fpr 'fivp minutes. Thp resolution was adopted. Ilpcoived 3, 940 a.m. * ■ LONDON, July 2. TlielHan, W. P. Reeves, N.& A 2 ent Goneral, spealung- at the Canadian dinner! in London, referring- to President Boosevelt's declaration that America must dominate the Pacific, stated that /Great Britain', Japan, France, and Gbrmany would claim equal trade rights} and facilities. i* Lord- Strathcona, High Commission-, er forl Canada, asserted that Canada^ quired Canada, in 190§T received 104,000 ia migrants, chiefly American. F OTTAWA, July 2. Sir Milfrid Laurier. Dominion Prpmjep,: iaif| ' t^at l apF»W, m^t irij^i^te npgft*- dtions fpr a. n&c'^i spttlemen^. Ca>w a would accept a reasonaWp agreei tent, though she would, not move • auoth iv finger since her advances had been ftjected. ••• s

Sir WK«t Canai agreei auoth bcenl

.The Government of the United States give* seed away to farmers each year t6 tm vaiuo q£. J533 i BQ0 1