THE IMPERIAL QUESTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8143, 15 December 1904, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL QUESTION.

MR ABQUITH'S VIEWB.

[PBBBB ASSOCIATION.] (Received December 15, 0.38 a.m ) Mr Asquith) speskuig at Preston, said Mr Balfour's proposed colonial conference was another atempt at procrastination and was intended to prevent a fair and square fight between Free Trade and Protection ; but meantime it had served ita putposa T-the evil day was postponed. Colojiiar conference! were becoming a permanent part of Government machinery. One polling was due at a not distant date, but if the elctors responded to Mr Balfour's call it would mean that those summoned to the conference 'would claim it to be a mandate in favor of colonial prefernce. "I want to make clear," he said, "the real isue. The question is whether the country intends sanctioning the taxing of foreign food and foreign raw material (including cotton). One point whereon all ; responsible colonial statesmen were agreed J was that whether or not they received preference thy would rmain true to the. Empire, and he ventured to say that tbo Empire would remain true to them. The Daily Mail says the colonial Coster. ence is no longer a Bscal ad hoc, hut Imperial at large, and precisely such as th» Liberals would assuredly summoa if they were returned to power.