THE CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13491, 18 May 1907, Page 5

THE CONFERENCE.

SIR W. LYNE'S CRITICISMS.

ATTACKS ON BRITISH

MINISTERS.

' THEIR ATTITUDE " ALMOST

OFFENSIVE.;' t

By Telegraph.— Association.—

(Received May 17, 9.50 p.m.)

London, May 17. Sir W. J. Lyne addressed a meeting of members of the Australasian Chamber of Commerce yesterday. He said he regretted to find in London those who owed all to Australia not standing forth to help Australia. The Premiers at the Conference had represented more than 15,000,000 whites, who wished to give fiscal preference to the Motherland. In the Conference the British Government's action had been of a negative character from the start, with a view to refusing everything that Australia wanted. It was not entirely offensive, but a " sit-still sort of we-won't-do-it" attitude.

The officials gave a very good precis of the proceedings when the Home Ministers spoke, and & very bad one when others spoke. He hoped the Blue Book would soon be published, for it 'would show the public that in the efforts made by the Premiers to get the Government to do something, they had been met with an almost offensive negative by two members of the Conference, first by Mr. Asquith, who had a case and worried for it like a -brief in Court, \ and secondly by Mr. Churchill, who was against us all the time as far as preference was concerned." .:•' _ One man who had helped the Premiers much, both at the Imperial Conference and at the Shipping Conference, was Mr. Lloyd-George, who had endeavoured to take off the rough edge of his colleagues' refusal. The Conference had been a means of ventilation, nothing more.; He hoped things would be different before next meeting. If the present Home Government did not alter their attitude, they would-be beaten. " ' London, May 16. Sir W. J. Lyne, in an interview yesterday, said he considered the Government had adopted a callous attitude in regard to preference. He hoped the; discussion would make the British people seriously \ consider the question. ,; He was; doubtful ;.• of good results from a secretariate worked by the Colonial Office. Until Australia's coastal fleet was a reality it would be better for the Admiralty to maintain ; the existing squadron in ; Australian waters. He regretted the Conference had not considered that the Pacific Islands ought to be-in-cluded within the jurisdiction of Australian coastal trade laws. ■;: Sir W. J. Lyne addressed a crowded meeting of the London Chamber of Commerce - yesterday. He promised a hearty welcome to all the J members ? visiting j Australia in ; 1909. He complained of Mr. Asquith's hav- ■ ing "reasserted • ther fiction'that the' Premiers had demanded preference in the raw materials required by British manufacturers, and insisted that Great Britain's trade to Australia was not increasing as rapidly as that foreigners. .:: He dwelt on the unparalleled prosperity of Australia. , His speech was enthusiastically applauded. - ■..■■' A LACK OF, RESTRAINT. (Received May 18, 12.17 a.m.) ■ London, May 17. The London Daily Chronicle says that Sir W. J. Lyn'e's remarks are, sadly lacking in restraint, and even courtesy. Mr. Asquith's address to the ; Conference was unquestionably trenchant, and if Sir W. J, Lyne cansnot; answer it, it would be better to leave it alone. It adds: "We welcome discussion, but there should be as little direct infusion of party spirit as possible." ' VIEWS OF LIBERAL NEWSPAPERS., ... REPLY TO MR. DEAKIN. ■'V'" * London, May 16. The Daily Chronicle says the Conference has been. unusually fruitful as compared with its predecessors. The Westminster Gazette comments on the attitude of ; Mr. Deakin and Dr., Jameson at the Conference very severely, and asks whether it is fair that 000,000 of people in the United Kingdom■ should be coerced by appeals to patriotism for the Empire into submitting to taxation for the benefit of the colonial farmers, ■who already are prosperous. Do the colonies wish their democratic statesmen to make cause with the ; Conservative anti-democratic parties in England to ; further a policy which would raise the \ price of the necessaries of \ life 1 ■-. They have freedom greater than free trade. England has never attempted to force her policy upon the self-governing colonies.

The Minister for War (Mr. Haldane), speaking at a meeting in London yesterday, said the Government had shown in the Imperial Conference that the Liberals had a constructive policy. They had done a great deal of business, and laid the foundations for a great deal more.