THE HON. MR. FOWLDS AND THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13499, 28 May 1907, Page 3

THE HON. MR. FOWLDS AND THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Sir,—Probably on no occasion since Mr. Fowlds has attained to public life ha* h* let himself go at Mich a rate as ho is reported to have done a tew days ago at Christchurch on the attitude of eomo of the Australian representatives at the Imperial Conference on the question of preferential trade. Of course, Mr. Fowlds' attitude ta quite apparent, because ho is first and foremost a smgle-taxer, and the very. apotheo*ii of.single tax is free trade. Customs autie* of any kind is the unpardonable sin of the single tax doctrine. It is no ■wonder, therefore, that Mr. Fowlds should declaim "with tears in his voice" against a movement that will bo so destructive to tho little tin, image that ho has been worshipping so long. But if the Imperial Conference has demonstrated anything it is that the question of preferential trade has been advanced a very big stage during its sitting. It has also demonstrated that there are millions of our kith and kin in the United Kingdom a* well m in the colonies that behove «o " Chamberlain ism," notwithstanding Mr. Fowlds' hysterical opposition. There are also millions of us who believe that prefer, ential trade would do far more to.cvmonfe the Empire than such measures as the Land. Bill presently before the country, and which many of us believe Mr. iowlds had no small share in fathering. Joseph Flanagan.