MR CHAMBERLAINS POLICY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9753, 26 May 1903, Page 4

MR CHAMBERLAINS POLICY.

SPEECH OF SIR J. 0. WARD. ] MR T. E. TAYLOR'S VIEWS. ! At the social to Mr Ell last Wednesday '" Mr T. E. Taylor, M.H.R., in the course j of an address, referred to Mr Chamberlain's speech. He said that it was a re- j marknblo utterance, which would have to be discussed thoroughly within the next year or so. He rather shrank from endorsing all those things put forward in the name of Imperialism. His reading of the position might be faulty ; but he did not think it was. There was not an instance on record where an empire i had accomplished a great deed. There were heaps of instances where small peoples had accomplished mighty things. And while ho had anything to do with the public life of this colony he was not going to bo dragged at tho wheels of a mere sentiment or an empty sound. (Applause.) If he remained in Parliament for the next three yeai-s, and if this question came up for settlement, he would not for the name of "Empire" discount 1 per cent, the luxuries enjoyed by the working men of this country. New Zealand could do signal service to the nation by conserving the rights of the people here, and seeing that they had the very best physical and mental culture. Did the proposed Imperialism mean that the House of Lords was to bo allowed to put a finger on the affairs of this country? If the partnership did take place the House of Lords must not be admitted into the agreement. (Applause.) Ho was very sceptical of arguments based on pure sentiment. He believed that it was the best thing for the English people when the United States threw off the yoke of England and became a free people. He did not suggest that that course should be pursued by a large section of the English-speaking race, but he affirmed that the people here should scrutinise very carefully the proposals made by Mr Chamberlain. He failed to see why we should do anything in the way of Imperial trade that was going to injure our people at the expense of the British manufacturer. (Applause.) Sir Joseph Ward said that as a result of Mr Chamberlain's utterances, a new policy was being propounded for the people of the Old Country. It was asked whether that policy should apply both to them and to the outposts of the Empire. He, for one in the Southern Hemisphere, thought that there should be some system of preference within the bounds of the British Empire for trade purposes. (Applause.) They had heard an expression of opinion in that direction from a man who had an enormous following. What was being done by other nations? The men who controlled France and Germany were extending the commercial ramifications of those countries. They subsidise the great ocean leviathans to the extent of thousands of pounds a year. They were endeavoring to supplant British trade, and they had a perfect right to do so, if they could. If the Empire was anxious to keep abreast of the movement it must take some steps and use brains, otherwise it would lag behind, and the influence of the flag would be diminished. Men in responsible positions, and also the people, must bestir themselves. By means of legislation there should be brought into use a frame-work which could be utilised as a natural method of communication between the Old Country and the Young. They must work together to bring about commercial preference throughout the Empire, wherever the flag flew. (Applause.) Then the effect of the subsidies to the ocean leviathans would disappear like the mist before the wind. But he did not want to be misunderstood. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand did not want, in order to improve their standing, to be drawn into obligations in connection with navies or defence. (Hear, hear.) That position was clearly understood out here, and the sooner it was understood in the Old Country the better. If the people at Home wanted the co-operation of the colonies, they must allow the people here to have a clear, distinct and emphatic voice in regard to the defence of these distant parts of the Empire. (Mr Taylor: Be a junior partner?) Perhaps so; but it had to be remembered that New Zealand was only on the fringe of settlement. Its population was only 800,000; but to ask ajyoung country like this to put its neck into a noose so that anyone might pull the strings and strangle it was out of the question. The colonies did not want to be drawn into every imbroglio into which the Old Country might like to enter. In conclusion, he said that the policy of the Government would be placed before the people in due time, and meanwhile he asked them to exercise patience. (Applause.') Mr Ell said that England would be able to successfully compete with other countries if it pushed its manufacturers as they did. He denounced a hostile tariff against other countries, with a preferential tariff in favor of England. He opposed the proposal absolutely. There were items of Customs duties that could be struck out, so as to allow certain English articles to come in free, and in that way New Zealand could help the Old Countiy.