PREFERENTIAL TARIFF QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12624, 3 August 1904, Page 5

PREFERENTIAL TARIFF QUESTION.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT, COLONIAL CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. By Telegraph.—press Association.— (Received August 3, 11.7 p.m.) London, August 2. In the House of Commons, Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman's motion of censure connected with the fiscal question has been negatived by 288 to 210. The Secretary for the Colonies (Mr. Lyttelton) declared that the colonies approved of the principle of preference. It was obvious that there must be many points of detail and method requiring investigation. Some degree of liberty must be allowed even to members of the Government in regard to the question. Mr. Balfour, justifying his own consistency, ridiculed the idea that every member of a party must agree on every point on questions coming before the country. Such a doctrine would preclude the Liberals coming into office. The debate was animated. Lord Hugh Cecil made a notable speech. He declared that a preferential tariff was totally wrong. It was a mistake to assume that an increase of trade meant an increase of affection. He cited illustrative incidents in our foreign relations. The chief feature of a remarkable sitting was Mr. Chamberlain's appeal to the Government to summon a new Colonial Conference, to enable the country to ascertain authoritatively what the colonies wanted, and what they were willing to give. He contended that preference was far more important than retaliation, and as it was ripe for submission to the country, the sooner the issue was raised the better. • (Received August 3, 1.1 a.m.) London, August 2. Forty-six Nationalists voted with the minority on Sir H. CampbellBannerman's motion, and eight Unionist Freetraders voted with the majority, while 33 Unionist free fooders abstained. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, Lord George Hamilton, Mr. Ritchie, and several others who were absent did not pair. [The vote of censure was based on. the fact that Lords Lansdowne and Selbourne had accepted office as vice-presidents of the Liberal Unionist Council, of which Mr. Chamberlain is president. The object oPthe council is to work for the realisation of Mr. Chamberlain's preferential tariff views. The motion of censure expressed regret that certain Ministers had joined a body which was working against the expressed policy of the Government.]