THE COLONIAL PREMIER.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11938, 18 May 1907, Page 3

THE COLONIAL PREMIER.

London, May 16. Sir Win. Lyne has given tbe Mail Syndicate notice that if they fail to enter into the additional bond within a week the contract will be cancelled. Sir Wm. Lyne (Federal Minister of Customs) said he considered that the Imperial Government had adopted a callous attitude with regard _to preference. He hopes that the discussion at the Conference will make the British people seriously consider the question. He was doubtful of good results from the Secretariat worked by the Colonial Office. Until the Australian coast fleet was a reality it would be better for the Admiralty to maintain tbe existing squadron in Australian waters. He regretted that tbe Conference bud 1 not considered what Pacib'c islands j ousrht to be included in the juris- j diction of the Australian coastal 1 trade. . , „] Sir Wm. Lyne addresed a crowdeal meeting in the London Chamber 61? Commerce. He promised a hearty', welcome to all delegates visiting, Australia in 1909. He complain^! of Mr Asquith reasserting tbe fiction; that the colonial Premiers demanded* prefereace in raw materials required] hy British manufacturers. Sir Wir; Lyne insisted that Britain's tracft with Australia was not increasing with the same rapidity as that oi foreigners. He dwelt on the unparalleled prosperity of Australia. He was enthusiastically applauded a t tbe conclusion. The "Chronicle" says the Imper-. ial Conference was unusually fruitful compared with its prerfpnessors. „ 1 The "Westminster Gazette com-* ments on Mr Dealdn and Dr Jameson very severely, and asks whether ;it was fair that the forty millioD i people of the United Kingdom should bo coerced by appeals to patriotism to the Empire into submitting to taxation for tbe benefit of colonial farmers who were already prosperous. The paper asked if tbe colonies wished democratic statesmen to make cause with the Conservative and anti - Democratic parties to further a policy which would raise tbe price of the necessaries of life. There was a freedom greater than free trade, and England had never attempted to force ber policy upon the self-governing colonies. Sir Wm. Lyne visited Smithfield and compared the various classes of frozen mutton. He noticed that tbe • New Zealand meat appeared fresher ! and of a better color tban Austialian. He,intends to institute inquiries on his return. Mr Hughes, in an article in the "Chronicle," asserts that the freehold tenure of land is tbe curse of j Australia, as it is in England. He urges State ownership and leasehold at an economic rental, witn period- I ical reappraisement, or a tax on nn- j improved land values. | Sir R. Bond (Newfoundland) interviewed, states: "I have received the most respectful hearing from members of the Government, and most sympathetic support from other Premiers. The Imperial Government did not meet Newfoundland's reasonable demand, but I hope they will use their best endeavors to undo the mischief which f.bo fishing vivendi has occasioned. I trust that the embarrasment and humiliation to which the colony bas been subjected will not be repeated by a renewal of the arrangement. " He added that the vivendi had led to a disregard of Newfoundland's constituted authorities. He was deeply disappointed at the result of his appeal for justice. Mr Deakin and Lord Reay addressed a crowded meeting of the Naional Service Legue at Queen's Hall relative to tbe importance of the universal military training. Lord Reay stated that ho would shortly visit Switzerland to study the question.