BOARD OF TRADE BANQUET.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10966, 8 May 1907, Page 1

BOARD OF TRADE BANQUET.

SIR. JOSEPH WARD'S SPEECH

ENTHUSIASM AT .MANCHESTER.

(Per Press Association.) WELLING-TON, last night. The following cablegram lias been hand ed to the Press Association by the Government:—. London, May 7. At the banquet given by the Hon. Lloyd George, President of the Board' oJ Trade, to membere of the Navigation Conference at the Savoy hotel, on Friday night last, Sir Joseph Ward ? in the course of his speech, said, referring to several important matters lie had already brought up in the Colonial Conference, that he would take the opportunity of mentioning these, because tliey were of such great importance to the British Government, the Governments of the self-governing colonies, and the people of the British Empire. He believed all wanted to assist in bringing into closer touch the people of the old. land and the new, and one practical way of doing so was by improving the means of communication between the Old EWorld and the outlying portions of the Empire. He had the firm belief before coming to England that a faster passenger and mail service between England, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand \yas one way of bringing the countries into closer touch that was quite possible of accomplishment. A service £oujd bp> established to bring New Zea-

land within Zo_ JayjjZjpjyjOTdim." • They ifteH; nt^". '^xigifs'-t^imprjjyo- the ] trade of the' Empire and^-ft^fc«i^^|t'.'.^:'''Boi^ was an opportunity of doing" so an&bfiriging the people of the remoter -'parts'' of the Empire and England within limited time of each other. If they could get the . . population of Britain, Canada, ; Australia, and New Zealand •to recognise the great possibilities [which lay in a quieker service between each country, it would be the most valuable thing that liad ever .been done, as quicker communication would subsequently bring a great develop, mentoftpide between England and the self -governing colonies. He would take the opportunity of again advocating cheap transit charges on ships trading from New Zealand and Australia to England by representation' on the Board of Control of the Suez Canal, and as the natural outcome of this, reduction of ships' dues through the canal. He had already referred to what he termed the toll system of the sea and if they were wise men they would use tramp steamers to enable the people of Australia, New Zealand, ancl England to have their perishable goods, even though frozen, carried by a shorter route than at present, because the rates at the Suez Canal were almost probibi tive for the class of goods forwarded by tramp steamers coming that way. Something, in his opinion, should be done to improve trade coming in that direction. The business now done between England and Australia and New Zealand was considerable, but in future would be greater. Referring to cable communication, he said these great countries would find it would be invaluable to trade if the present, high rates were reduced. He did riot desire to do anything to hurt theehareholders by reducing the dividends they were receiving now; but they would work in that direction by seeing they did not suffer in respect of the amount payable to them. It should be possible to so reduce the rates that cables could be sent for sixpence or a shilling a word, and it would) be recognised what a. boon, this would be' both to" business, social, ancl domestic life, as well as invaluable in bringing all portions of the great Empire closer arid closer together. In the course of his reply, Mr Lloyd George said the results of the Conference just finished. must be considered in many respects as being of first-class importance to British trade. The inference itself was largely a new departure, but he believed ite success would justify its repetition. One good thing -that, had re? suited was that it enabled them to meet face to face Instead ©f talking thousands of miles away, and they had thus been able to clear, up many misunderstandings. Talking across the seas they were liable to imagine difficulties- and allow suspicion to; take the place of knowledge of each other's true position; but when they sat around one table many things they were apprehensi ve- about they found had no ground for fear at all. Proceeding, he said it was perfectly true that New Zealand and! Australia nad a right, and this the Imperial authorities conceded. They had the right of imposing any conditions they liked upon their own coastal trade, but- he would ask again, although lie had received an assurance that this would I not bo done, that the local regulations in i their severity should not be made to • disadvantageously against British I shipping. The old world • had to con-' tend against . foreign competition, which was growing daily, although he was glad to say that Britain was still holding her own. TKey'would much like their kinsmen in the Southern seas to helpimd not to hinder. >Sir Joseph Ward had raised K matters of first-class molment in the course of his speech. , Sir Joseph had referred to two or three questions brought before the Imperial Conference the other day in an extraordinarily able speech— &■ speech of which lie could say the knowledge impressed itself very strongly upon the Imperial delegates and the Imperial Government. Sir. Joseph had put before them, certain suggestions which tlie Imperial Government were giving their best consideration' at that moment, and it was more than probable that 'something would be said at the Conference on Monday. He had no right to anticipate what the result would be, but Sir Joseph. Jiad 1 raised three very practical suggestions; and these were now being debated, to which he hoped he would be able to give a satisfactory answer before the colonial Premiers left the city. This much he said : In regard to certain questions the point of view of the present Government may be different to that of New Zealand and Australia, which they recognised could not be given effect to, owing to political exigencies ; but they could recognise that' other things may "be done to assist, to bring the colonies closer \6 England. He considered the suggestions of Sir Joseph worthy of practical consideration. Taking the Imperial communications, he was of opinion that the subject was purely a business proposal, and what they had to consider was whether it was the best thing in the. interest of Britain as well as the- Empire as a whole; and itpon that condition alone he agreed that it was of the greatest importance to the portions of the Empire which were thousands of miles from each other that they should shorten the miles of communication. The first thing tli©. Romans did. was to make roads. Our roads lay across the seas, and what Sir Joseph suggested was that our Appian ways should be improved and shortened.. Between here and New Zealand it takes six weeks now, and the suggestion of Sir Joseph Ward, fortified subsequently by Sir Wilfrid Lauricr, was that it can be done in three weeks. This was a matter of great importance, and did not depend on political problems or thy fiscal, policy. -. Then the suggestion in respect to the Siiea Canal dues was im important matter. He did not see why the Imperial Government could not assist with the object of reducing the ratesj thus lightening the burden of ships trading between Australia and New Zealand and the Mother Country. These subjects were being considered, ancl lie would be surprised if something was not done to meet the proposals. of Sir Joseph Ward. He wa.s sure that if instead of discussing purely debatable matters' between the colonies and the Mother Country, as had been done in real earnest round the table, they would, with a view to arriving at a decision, carefully consider such suggestions a.s those made by Sir Joseph Ward, they would not separate without something tangiblo being done to bring the distant .' -parts of the Empire closer to the Homeland, and thus make a more united Empire. One way of doing so was improving the trade between various parts of the Empire by quicker lines of communication. These things, he had said, were being considered, and he could affirm they were considering them with some practical purpose in view. ■ ." ■

At the conclusion of his address, Mr Lloyd George referred- in flattering terms to Mr James Mills, manager of the Union Company. He said he was the principal I of the greatest line of steamers in the j Southern seas — a service favorably known throughout the Avorld. and he had great pleasure himself, as well as other Imperial { delegates, t o meet that gentleman for thefirst time. His experience in shipping j matters had been of incalculable' service. ! He had impressed them all with the J knowledge ho possessed of the subjects j under review in the deliberations of the j Conference. Indeed, Mr Mills' remarks ! ! were given in a manner which did him honor, and it was., difficult for a repre- ! sentative of British seamen (Mr Wilson, j M.P.) to -know whether he (Mr Mills) was really a shipowner or a seaman's representative, in view of his impartial, unbiassed view of what was good for the shipping world. The good work done by Messrs Belcher and Hislop was favorably commented on, and he personally thanked them for the able manner in which they also had dealt with the subjects brought before the Conference. THE RECEPTION AT MANCHESTER. Sir Joseph Ward, sneaking at Manchesttui on Saturday, where the reception aiid addresses were of an enthusiastic character, stated th;it New Zealand was 'anxious to increase her trade in natural products. The fact that there were ten :inillioiis of people within forty miles of

Manchester showed the possibilities of direct communication between New Zealand and Manchester, which offered invaluable advantages. In everything possible to save money for tlie producer and trader, and to the earnings of hard-work-ing settlers o f New Zealand, and wliereever expense could be avoided, the duty was to help in doing so. He urged that British shipowners and British merciitmts should join hands and work -with determination to help sliips flying the British flag to compete ou successful terms against active, up-to-date German competitors. He referred to the work of the Conference, and said that any rumor circulated that there was feeling exhibited at the deliberations was entirely incorrect. The delegates present were not men who appealed to the passions of any one. but to their reasoning powers, and though the British Government had not been able to agree to the proposal of the colonies for preference, they were not i dismayd or in any way deterred in urging mutual co-operation between England and the colonies, which was desirable in strengthening of the bonds of all portibns of tho Empire. All recognised the right of the 'British Government of to-day to carry out under a policy of self-govern-ment in England what the British Government and the colonies' maintained as the right of themselves, viz., complete independence in regard to decisions on matters of domestic policy* for their own countries. He was of the opinion that preference- with the colonies upon certain articles of necessary products coaiid be given effect to, and hoped to see it e,s--•present British Government; did not e'n'tertain this view, he- wiis persuaded in his own mind that it -was the right policy io pursue, jhnd though they might be slow to getting it accomplished, it was worthy of the consideration of tlie stntesinen and Parliaments: of British countries. He t said-the honor bf the freedom of the city/of Manchester, one of the greatest cities*- of England, was deeply appreciated, and would be cherished by him and regarded by the people of New Zealand as an honor to their representative and a compliment to that country through its representative, in England. Both of Sir Joseph Ward's, speeches at the freedom and reception were received 'with loud cheers,' and enthusiasm indeed characterised the -whole proceedin'gs.

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. At the Conference to-day Mr Lloyd George spoke for nearly three hours. He said the declared policy of England being freetrade, they could* not admit the re-' quest of the colonies. Though the Government were anxious in every way to do all that was possible for the 'colonies, and to help cement the tuiity, a large section in England were too poor to admit any increase in the price of foodstuffs, and he, was afraid that for sonie years t 0 come, if preference was agreed to and a duty on wheat imposed, there-would be hardships to the consumer. Taking wheat as a typical case, the-self-govern-ing colonies -would not be able to supply safficient wheat for England in the meantime, and consequently prices would rise. That was the opinion of the Government. He declared that a Conservative Government when in office removed the duty on coal for the same reason, arid that if again in power they woujd not impose a duty on coal -now. He stated that Conservatives were divided upon the question of protection, and quoted statistics to show that England had increased her export trade almost equal to that of America, GermauyV and France during, the last ten years. Though they could not agree to duties, they -were willing to assist in other ways. He paid a high compliment tf> Sir Joseph Wai % d for his suggestions in the important speech delivered by him as being most valuable with a view of helping the colonies. He would show the sincerity of the Government in their desire to do so. They would make provision: for representative. , commercial agents, what he would term Impelial commercial travellers, in the various selfgoverning colonies, and' so assist in dissetminatihg information and obtaining what -was required for the assistance of traders. The question of subsidy to steamers >yas a difficult one, and he saw a great difficulty in applying subsidies to what were termed ordinary cargo ■carriers,-, but Sir Joseph Ward's suggestion for fast services to bring- the colonies arid England closer together liad his sympathy, and that of the Government. Be understood Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mr Deakin mtpported the suggestion, and if practical ■proposals were submitted* they wmild receive the favorable consideration, of the Government. The bringing of the colonies closer. to England was most important. He was also in favor ol doing •what was possible to help in a reduction of the Suez Canal dues, and anything that could be done in this direction ,td assist on the lines suggested by Sii ; Joseph Ward woxdd be favorably considered. Mr Deakin stated that a bird in the hand was worth two in the 'bush.

Mr Lloyd George said the poliey of the Government was one of freetrade. They and their party.Jiad been returned upon that, although other elements, -of course, came; : iiito._ the election, but they could not Ybyjerse their policy. ,