IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10962, 3 May 1907, Page 3

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

BRITISH GOVERNMENT REFUSE PREFERENCE.

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright. (Received May 3, 8.44 a.m.) LONDON, May 2. Mr Asquith point-blank refused any fis cai preference. He indicated vaguely the possibility of assisting steam lines and cables. Mr Ramsay McDonald, m a letter tc the Times, ridicules tlie puny benefit which Australian preference offers. He considers that if Britain accepts she penalises Canada, New Zealand, and India as if'they werel foreign States. (Received May 3, 9.46 a.m.) .Mr Deakin asked if Mr Asquith meant to exclude consideration of Mr Hofmeyer's and Sir Sydenham Clarke's schemes, which involved neither protection noi freetrade. Mr Asquith asked for time tc consider his reply. T ~: Sir W. Lyne dissented with Mr Asquith j and said that from: the foundation to the summit his, pronouncement was calculated to lessen the sympathies of the colonies. He resented Mr Asquith's attempts to belittle the value of preference. Tne Premiers are. incensed' attbe ludicrous inadequacy and inaccuracy of tht precis of the discussions. The newspapers evince .extraordinary interest m tlie proceedings, and clamoi for fuller publicity." Tlie Premiers are receiving many hundlreds of tariff reform resolutions from all over the country. Tlie Freetrade Leagues declare they could do the same if they choose. •..;'"■■-., . „ " Sir H. C. Bannerman, speaking m tue House of Commons, hinted that a full report woulu be published after the conference. Certainly no preferential treatment would be extended to one subject over another. So far as the Government ■were concerned he hoped every syllable would be published.