PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 5

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

THE CANADIAN TARIFS\

Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyright

LONDON, April 26. Sir Edward Grey, in reply to* Mr Pike Pease, declared that the granting by Canada of her intermediate tariff to foreign countries would not prevent Canada altering her tariff in the direction of British preference in the future.

REMARKS BY MR T, MACKENZIE, , M.H.R. (Fjio.m Odii Own Correspondent.) INVLROARGILL, April 27. In ilio coursc of his address to farmers to-day, Mr T. Mackenzie, M.11.K., saij ho wished to touch for a moment on the question of trade preference. The deliberations of tho conference now sitting in London were of deep concern to this colony. Ho had always strongly advocated it system of piefercntial trade. It was apparent, that the British Government, probably, for party reasons, had no sympathy with tho movement, and in a degree was lacking in appreciation of the value of the dependencies. Canada had extended concessions to British goods, reaching now 39£ per cent., and at tho eonforcnco Sir Wilfrid Laurior stated that tho only questions liia Dominion was interested in related to trade. They had extended these concessions, and if Britain reciprocated they were prepared to go a step further. 'Evidently that step was not to he accepted, _ns they had that day read that tho Canadian Government niight proceed to admit Continental countries' products on a. lessened tariff. Party government was responsible for 'frustrating commercial principles,' The London Chamber of Commerce, by 1077 votes against <T72 votes, was in favour of trado preference. Wero this carried out under capable commercial superintendence it would undoubtedly bo fraught with great, benefit, not. only to the Mother Country, hut also to the colonies. Canada was emphatically practical. When it talked of preference it granted it; when it talked of retaliation it enforced, it; and when it objected to prisonmate goods it' prohibited them.