THE EMPIRE'S BUSINESS MEN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11659, 14 June 1912, Page 4

THE EMPIRE'S BUSINESS MEN.

TARIFF COMMISSION. [Br. .Ei/ectkic TfibKOßApn—Copyright.] • (Per Pit ess Association.) : Received June 13, at 10.10 p.m. • ■ - London, June 13. At tin- Chambers'of Commerce' Con- . ■ .{Tress Sir Albert Spicer' declared that Australia, had made it clear that it did nut want tariff concessions which were not in Britain's own interests, and there was no human possibility of 'the British electors agreeing to tax food for the sole benefit of the overseas'- ; • Mr E. Treadwin (Australia) Urged • that it was the duty of the Motherland to listen, to the voice of-the colonics i'l the 'matter of preference. The London Chamber's motion in favor of an enforcement in one part'..of the Empire of the. arbitration awards aruF judgments of another part was carried. .7 Mr Hedges (W'estrjilSa) asked what good' it was in asking for. legislation to enforce awards ill other parts of the Empire when they were unable to enforce them in.' their own country. Industrial 1 awards iii Australia were openly flouted by the men. . Three hundred men were present at. the Congress banquet, Mr Harcourt pre-" siding. . Sir G. H. R-eid, replying.to the to;ist of tike.. Imperial forces, said he would like to see the army increased by pai> tia 1 conscription. The only satisfactory way of establishing colonial navies was by 'a monetary 'contribution to the Imperial Government, which' would_e.mploy vessels equivalent to" the contribution, solely in peace time jn.tthe. watcis .ot contributing Dominions, .to bo;available in war time for Empire service. Mr Buxton, in replying to the toast of the Parliament, referred 1 to the ! satisfactory results, of the Trade Com - missions iii the Dominions. ReieriMig !to the. industrial unrest, lie said he hoped their colonial friends would assist tlie Motherland to. bring Capital and Labor together lor the common good. . . Sir Algernon Frith, replying to t" 8 . Chambers of Commerce toast, said oyer two hundred millioris of British capital were exported last -year;' whereof tliirtysix; millions want to Canada and only three and a-half millions to Australia. Mr J. M- Paxton (Sydney), said' the'| presence.of foreign Powers, not a.great distance, off, demanded Australia's watchfulness, hence -tlie necessity for founding their own. navy and training their own youth. . - Received June 14, at'o.ls p.m.' London, June 13- ; ' The Commerce Congress discussed the desirability of the Empire co-operating in national-defence, and urged the Govornmcnt to ajjeree .to a practical sclieiiio, at an early date. ~ . « Owing to strong dissent,, the Montreal delegation withdrew its motion to .theeffect that the Dominions were. ■ doing their part by; devoting their revenue to the development of their own/resources; Major Corrigan,'.of Wellington, said New Zealand's demand for compulsory training was not connected with parties; hut was due. to a demand by the people, "headed by the press. ' 1 •>; : , Mr Jenkins, formerly Agent-General for South Australia, said that if Britain adopted the Australian'system -she would have 3.000,000 trained lads.