THE PARIS CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16675, 22 April 1916, Page 7

THE PARIS CONFERENCE

POSITION Off CANADA. •"| LONDON, April 19. , Mr Ramsey Steel-Maitland, in reply tor vf Sir C. Kinloch-Cooke, said that he had \ informed Canada that no action would be ,; f taken at the Paris Conference withoot -- i| fully consulting that dominion, THREE PRINCIPLES. ; MR LAW ANS~S, RUNCIMAN. *, LONDON, April 20. . v Replying to the deputation from the i-j Associated Chambers of Commerce, urging preferential trade with the colonies and. the Allies, Mr A. Bonar Law said; " There is a great change in public feeling regarding the fiscal policy as a result ot* the war. Mr Runcdman and myself repr&- ,a; sent two views at the Paris Conference, - but we have agreed on three principles. Firstly, security is of more importance , than opulence. Secondly, future ganerations will not forget how the Germans have carried on the war—whether it p&ya or does not pay Ido not believe 'that the ;s people will ever allow the Germans to again exploit the markets of the Empire as they did before the war. Thirdly, wo are not agreed that there will be a pre- J, ferential system with the colonies, but tha . j feeling for the solidarity of the Empire and the admiration for the colonies is such that freetraders and protectionists alike : approach the subject with, a real deeire is to meet the wishes of the colonies. . Behind the question is Imperial union, and that will never be secured as the result of party; quarrels either in Britain or elsewhere. • MR W. M. HUGHES. SPEECH TO LABOURITES. ] —_ , ' v ! ;g CO-OPEERATION OF ALL CLASSES. . i NECESSITY FOR FISCAL CHANGS. '■ 1 LONDON; April 19.' '*! There was a gathering of Labourites at a dinner tendered to Mr W. M. Hughes by the Labour Party in the Hoose ol Commons. Mr Hughes said he was proud thai organised labour had responded nobly to g the call of duty. The war had drawn all ' classes of the community closer together, enabling a truer perspective and under- , standing of one another to be gained; q This common cause and the spirit of self- < sacrifice had purged us of suspicion and J distrust in the different functions of -4 society. We were a truer nation and mora - • ready to adopt a national policy, which would effect a profound salutary change in the social and economic conditions of thp people. Mr Hughes dealt at length with tha attitude of Labour in the commonwealth. - r, to the war- Australia had long prepared in the certainty of war. She had adopted universal training and had established a navy. She had enlisted 200,000 men, and - i also had to the utmost of her power waged ; economic war. She had utterly. destroyed > < the German hold in Australia trade. Mr Hughes pointed out the necessity i for a change in Britain's fiscal policy. ■;/ Doubtless this would be almost revoiationary, .but it was obviously proper and _ > necessary, and would be welcomed by aEL save those whom self-interest and false doctrine blinded. , The speaker concluded by urging the gravity of the situation and the absolute , necessity for a thorough organisation of all . • classes in order to meet the preparedness is and organisation of Germany, which was i still far from exhausted. He hoped that s the Labour movement would take its place . s in the vanguard and co-operate with all classes in an unfaltering purpose to ; btrild up a sound social and economic foundation worthy oi higher crvilisatkau ! .