PREMIERS IN THE CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13490, 17 May 1907, Page 5

PREMIERS IN THE CITY.

PREFERENTIAL TRADE. COLONIES' HANDS STILL OUTSTRETCHED. POLITE REFUSAL ONLY TEMPORARY. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received May 16. 10.3 p.m.) London, May 16. A crowded meeting of city men held in the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange yesterday gave Dr. Jameson and Mr. Deakin a tremendous, reception. Dr. Jameson said he . was disappointed that the Conference had not | ; made a decisive step forward in the direction of consolidation of the Empire. Whatever had been achieved had been mainly due to Mr. Deakin's energy, pluck, and eloquence. The substitution of the word "Imperial" for " Colonial" in the name of the Conference meant emancipation of the Conference from the aegis of the Colonial Office. It meant that future Conferences would be as between Governments. He regretted that effective machinery for the consolidation of the Empire had not been obtained owing to the secretariate, after the hardest fight at the Conference, remaining a department of the Colonial Office. He was convinced present arrangements would prove such a failure that the Premiers would obtain efficient machinery at the next Conference. He argued that both sentimental and material links were required to cement the Empire. He complained that the Government had not attempted to answer the Premiers' case for preference, and had " only, knocked down bogeys of their ' own erection. He believed the Government was afraid to make even ' a little experiment in the direction of reciprocal trade because it would prove a success. BUILDING THE BRIDGE. I Mr. Deakin denied emphatically that the Premiers had in the slight- j est degree attempted to embarrass' the Government from party and political motives. No reciprocity was l possible unless the preference was mutual. Australia was prepared to build her half of the bridge to the centre arch, where she must await the Motherland's approach before the keystone was dropped, which would complete the structure. . Many of the arguments that had been advanced to prevent tariff reform were absolutely contrary *to Australian experience.

He ridiculed the importance attached to the phrase" immutable laws," in' connection with free trade. " Imaginary laws " would be truer. He dwelt on the small success that 60 years' advocacy of free trade had] had upon the /world, and said, that) far-sighted foreigners 'already, .foresaw the advent of preference in the British 1 Empire,;,. and : were. taking measures to secure the best markets which were to be found in the British colonies.' If the prospect of i preference did that, what would not 10 per cent, duty accomplish. The Australians were free-traders to the extent of one-third of their imports. They adopted free ) trade and protection according as they paid best. COMMERCE THE BOND. » He argued > that commerce - needed fostering. rlt was impossible to apply the principle ,of co-operation better than in developing the resources of one's "■ own nation. Many had argued that the Empire's strength rested in ships, and in the I commerce with the colonies, but without commerce there /would bel neither ships nor colonies. :i The! Empire was not 'only a great armed' force, a civilising >: agency, 1: and a school of culture, but it was- a gigantic business enterprise which ought to be directed on business principles. The Home Government's principal aim ought to be to fortify and; sustain commerce. : ; If their ancestors had fought to establish it, surely it was worth our while to protect it. The Premiers wished to see the whole machinery of commerce, as well as of public life, applied to securing the unity of the Empire. Although the Conference had failed to accomplish* much directly, yet; its indirect results had repaid the | sacrifices the delegates had made to attend it. When other nations found that commercial unity was so enormously valuable as a means of, developing national life, why should Great Britain throw aside so potent an instrument The colonies' hands were still outstretched_ because they recognised that the present polite refusal of preference was only temporary. Since the Empire's whole force was employed to protect trade in war time, surely it was justifiable to expect this country and the Empire to protect trade in peace time. Concluding. Mr. Deakin said, "The colonies believe in you, and would still believe in you, even if you ceased to believe in yourselves. We believe within this nation lies a force capable of rousing you to greater and more lofty heights than ever, enabling you to retain the proud position your forefathers placed you in." • At the close there were prolonged cheers, and the audience sang " For They Are Jolly, Good Fellows."