PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5163, 2 January 1904, Page 2

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

SEDDONIAN STSOAUTTES AND ENGLISH CRITICS. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, November 20. It is rather umusing to notice bow each side in the fiscal controversy has (.igerly pouuo.’d Ibis work upon -Mr Srddon’s preferential tariff proposals as an argument wherewith to demolish “ the other fellow.'’ “Tho Times” used them to refute the allegation that the colonies .ore doin'!; nothing to justify Mr Chamberlain’s crusade. ‘‘Mr geddon’s proposals," it says, "are pretty thorough-going. The Australian Premier is not far behind him, and from all parts of tho Empire come loss formal adhesions to Mr Chamberlain's policy.” Then I'm •' Standard” seized upon the statement of-Mr Scddon, “tho champion of Imperial union, tho fiery advocate of preferentiulism,” in which he said that consideration for New Zealand industries prevented him from proposing any remission of the import duties on British goods. “Ivecping out the foreign manufacturer,.” says' tho “Standard.” “will not. help our traders, if they aro not allowed to coino in except under a prohibitive tax." This theme is developed by tho “ Westminster Gazette.” Mr Scddon’s plan of raising the duties against the, foreigners without reducing the duties on British manufactures is described as* “ manifestly setting the narrowest limits to the new policy so far as tho colonics are concerned and tho evening jowjml proceeds to assert that “the truth is, tho colonial nnimifaotmer will not. for tho benefit of tho colonial agriculturist, make terms with Mr Chamberlain's central idea, which i.a that British industry, shut out (as'ho alleges') from the Old World, should find a free market'in new countries which will lake our manufactures and pay ns in food or raw material.” Finally, the “St. James’s Gazette” welcomes Mr Seddon’s proposals as n, most encouraging sign. “That young colonies,’ 1 proceeds tho “'Westminster’s” rival, “should take off their duties in favour of British goods is* perhaps for the moment unfeasible. Young colonies nerd revenue, and import duties provide it, while we .must neither expect* nor endeavour to kill the rising industries al ■ ready set going by iutei'necino competition from the ITomo market. Given a substantial -preference over the" foreigner, we shall, find a large and everwidening market for our manufactures that conflict of interests which is a chimerical bogey in possession of Hie Littiu England brain ” . Mr Chamberlain himself, meanwhile, with now an lh a!nrost assured conviction of success.” as ho told tho Agonts-Gcn-pral on Wednesday, is not letting the grass grow beneath his foot. To-night ho addresses -a monster meeting at Cardiff. where ho is awaited with the utmost eagerness. Tho fact that there have been nearly forty thousand applications for seats in a building which only has .seating room for 4200 speaks for itself. Amongst tho fiscal incidents of tho week has been tho support promised by Sir Michaql Hicks-Beach, a . staunch “froe-foodcr,” to Mr Balfour's fiscal policy in regard to foreign nations. On tho Liberal side, Sir Henry CnmpbcH-Dan,norman has told us what “cordial .satisfaction it has given every man among them to-hear from Lord Rosebery, that ho is ready to share the labour and responsibility of public jife in active .co-operation with a ' united Liberal party.” But whether Lord Rosebery is to dead onco moro, or is 10 (wrvo underi “C. 8.,” or merely to serve liko those “who only stand and wait,” is not yet clear.