PREFERENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 312, 16 November 1910, Page 2

PREFERENCE.

— Prior to leaving for New Zealand as . Governor of the Dominion, Lord Islington was engaged as a member of the Royal Commission on Trade Relations between Canada and the West Indies. Ilis lordship was unable to attend the final sitting of the Commission, owing to his departure for New Zealand, but his opinions are given in a special memorandum issued with the 1 report of the Commission, which was published in the last week ol' September, states the London correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times." Lord Islington also authorised the addition of his signature to the report, which is a unanimous one. Lord Islington, in his memorandum, says that as an advocate of free trade he is, of course, opposed to any restriction on com- \ merce, such as is presupposed by the grant of exclusive tariff concessions. , In this instance, however, the fact has to be borne in mind that both Canada j and the West Indies conduct their fiscal system on a tar ill basis. ihe question which overshadows ail others in importance is that of putting the prosperity of the West Indies on a secure footing, and it can hardly be j be doubted that this end would be , furthered by drawing those colonies into closer relations with a member of : the Empire as wealthy, powerful and patriotic as Canada. "Can this," he | asks, "be done without an exchange; of tariff concessions?" Whilst in no way under-rating the value of other , methods, he is of opinion that the in- I elusion of reciprocal arrngements is j essential to such a scheme. Further, ; he feels that, as both sides favour | tariff concessions, the West Indies ( because existing privileges would ' thereby be secured, and Canada because they accord with her settled and general policy, the commissioners > should accept facts and aid the parties : in realising their desires. He is the ; more ready, he says, to adopt this attitude in that, broadly considered, ''the movement i- toward.-, freer trade within the Empire, inasmuch as any concession will extend at least to the United Kingdom being asked to sacrifice any principle or ■ any of the revenue derived from ! duties on foreign imports; and, if it be found possible for the West Indies to meet deficits of revenue without increasing the taxation on food, and ! these colonies are encouraged to seek instead fresh sources of revenue, it appears to me that success in the 1 movement for plover trade relations : must he productive of great good." : Having considered all the circumstances, the Commissioners find they are faced with the conclusion that the : grant of a reciprocal preference is the ■ only policy which is at all likely to command any measure of approval either in the West Indian colonies or in the Dominion.