The N. Z. Times TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1907. IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6178, 9 April 1907, Page 4

The N. Z. Times

TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1907. IMPERIAL PREFERENCE

vxm which ii iNooaroHA'zxp tm “ WBLusoros raCirilDi.tT.” KBTXSLVUCBD 1842.

Sir William Lyno long ago established 1 ■his reputation in Australia as a strongminded Minister to whom candour means recklessness and sincere opinions mero subject for truculent proclamation. It was, therefore, freely predicted of him. when ho left for,-England a couplo of months ago, that ho would make a scene of some kind. Unfortunately, the prediction lias turned out to bo correct, for Sir Williams frank declaration that tho free-trade verdict of tho last general election was ‘‘a mere flash in tho pan,” and his still more offensive assertion that Great Britain is willing to tako help from her enemies while refusing tho aid of her friends, has incensed tho British Liberal press. Unfortunately so, we say, for wo perceive a real dagger to a good Imperial understanding in this offensive attitude. Tho cause of liunorial preference is not likely to be advanced when tho Minister for Customs of tho second largest; of the colonies shakes a big stick at England, and presumes, without tho smallest competence, to tell tho Mother Country what her fiscal views ought to be. Thcro nro probably sufficient colonial Prime Ministers in England just now to issue, on behalf of the colonies, an emphatic declaration that tho Lyno attitude is not tho colonial attitude at all, but there aro so many misunderstandings already hampering reasonable discussion of tho fiscal policy of tho Empire that even ono injudiciously bellicose Minister can do a deal of damage. Tho full reports of the fiscal elebatp in the Housp of Commons on February 19th and 20th last, noted by us at tho time as a curious evidence of British misunderstanding of the real colonial feeling, make it amply clear that tho colonies can hardly do the cause of Empire a better service than by stating, as briefly as possible, tho considerations which chiefly rule their attitude upon tho question of Imperial trade reciprocity. Ono Liberal member declared, in the debate referred to, that tho colonial manufacturers would suffer from a change in tho fiscal system of England, and would be tho “nucleus of a party with a grievance against tho Mother Country.” Mr Jesse Collings, from an opposite bench, hinted that Canada could with justice withdraw her preference “because wo slapped her face to every offer made to us.” Mr Winston Churchill predicted that the “bargaining” and “haggling” which must .attend a system of Imperial prefer* rco would engender ill-will. Mr Rufus Isaacs thought that the differentiation that would bo necessary between the colonies would “loosen tho bonds of Empire.” All this kind of talk, coming from Liberals and Unionists impartially, has become very dreary and very sordid. We seriously believe that there is not a single colony which thinks that tho affection that 'binds tho Empire together can be impaired in tho slightest degree by any fiscal system., Briefly, tho New Zealand attitude is this: to give, as wo can afford to give, a preference to Imperial trade and to accept any return that is offered. We will not dun tho Motherland—tho British tariff is Britain's own business. Whether a freetrado tariff is good for Britain may b© doubted, but it is not our part to concern ourselves with that. Accordingly, it is thoroughly unpleasant to find that a colonial Minister, who should bo setting a good example, has been hectoring England from an Imperial platform.