PREFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6177, 8 April 1907, Page 5

PREFERENCE

FISCAL PRINCIPLES HOW THEY ARE AFFECTED. BRITAIN AND HER FREE MARKET. SEVERE CRITICISMS. By Aeaociation-CoDyright. (Received April 7,4.3 G p.m.) LONDON, April 0, The “Spectator that the concession of preference to British goods will not interfere with the essential principles of colonial fiscal systems, •viz., tho protection of their manufactures from outside competition. But, the “Spectator” pointu out, Britain cannot give preference without destroying the principle of a free market, subject to revenue duties onl.y. Tho “Daily Express - ’ and other Unionist papers accuse the British Government of trying to shelve tho Australian British Preference Bill until after tho Imperial Tho Government newspapers are irritated by Sir William Lync’s free criticisms of free trade, arid his declaration that tho verdict of last election was “a more flash in tho pan.” They arc further annoyed 'by Sir William Lync’s assertion that Great Britain is “willing to take help from her enemies while refusing the aid of her friends. Mr Ramsay Macdonald, .at the conclusion of his speech at Sheffield (reported on Saturday), added that they wanted to bo quiet and friendly with tho colonies, but were not going to allow a handful of political wirepullers to run the Empire in the interests of landlords and capitalists.