Imperial Trade Prefereace.

Southland Times, Issue 19970, 11 June 1903, Page 2

Imperial Trade Prefereace.

TWO ASPECTS. Per United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. LONDON, June 10. Lord Hampden, formerly Governor.of Queensland, interviewed by the Daily News, condemned Mr Chamberlain's proposals as !ikely tc» ultiinutely cause grave risk of rupture with the' colonies. The South Australian Agont-'J»ncr-al, in a letter published in. the otandard, says the colonies ask Bntain to make a beginning, however smaii, in the direction of preferential iraefcv It was possible to encourage Australian wine r India and Ceylon teas k or concede some ..mail preference in other products. A Birmingham Tariff League has been formed to support Mr Chnmlvrlain's scheme. Already othousaiid Midland manufacturers have joined. Received 10th, 11.10 p.m. Mr Chamberlain has informed tho Birmingham Liberal Unionist Association that he did not propose (o tax German machinery unless it itceived a bounty, directly or indirectly, when he would impose a corresponding duty. BERLIN, June 10. Received 10th, 11.10 p.m. In a semi-official aiticle the .Ooriin Post says it is believed that Britain supports Mr Chamberlain's scheme' and stronglj^ advises Germany "io seek a peaceful modus vivendi; > ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS,, v . ' LONDON, June £p* Rccoived 11th, 12.46 a.m." - Mr R. B. Haldane, M.P. for 31addingtonshire, in the course of a paper read before the Colonial Institute, declared that ii the colonies contributed more largely they wouid have, an indisputable claim to repre- - sentation on the Imperial Commit-eo of Defence. He advocated the format tion of another committee of advice on Imperial affairs, consisting of the , Prime Minister, the Secretaries of the Foreign and Colonial Offices ai-d. certain Privy Councillors, nominatid ••' by the sovereign at the request of colonial and Home Ministers; •numbers to have the right to speak, in the Imperial Parliament. The King ;.'".-' would thus : have two Cabiaets— one •' purely Imperial, >,he other British t'* remaining, in form, i)ne body tli wgh differently constituted oh ; differ mt/ occasions. An Imperial. Court of AR" peal, absorbing the appelatc lahc-^ tions of the House oi' Lords and IHe Privy Council, was .highly desirable. He feared Mr Chamberlain's fiscal policy would endanger the unity of the Empire. It was better that the colonies and the Motlierland. shbul I each have liberty £o take their ti.wn course. Grants in aid to the cnlbnies would be safer arid ?ythan the -proposed fiscal change- ' ; .