PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11924, 2 May 1907, Page 2

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

May 1, 10.10 p.m.

London, May 1. Mr peak in said that from the first inception of Colonial Conferences the possibility of more intimate trade relations between the Motherland and the Oolonieß by means of Customs or a Customs Union, had been in tho minds of representatives. He quoted Lord Salisbury's remarks at the opening iof the Conference in 1887, and the debate following on Sir Samuel Griffiths 1 direct appeal for preferential trade within the Empire. He also cited the late Mr Service's remarks that the whole of the subjects must be dealt with widely by the Imperial authorities from the standpoint of permanent unity of the Empire. Such remarks from a free trader were significant. He recapitulated his own comments on the same occasion he said that Sir S. Griffith's and Mr Hofmeyer's ideas suggested the best, if not the only, means available to bring the Empire closer together. He dwelt at some length on Mr Hofmeyer's proposals in 18S7, and also his warning at the Ottawa Conference as to the danger in neglecting his advice. Mr Deakin read the resolutions in favor of reciprocity with the colonies passed in 1894, and repeated in 1897 and 1902. He dwelt on the advance made each period, and quoted Mr Balfour's reply to a deputation in