THE Thames Advertiser. Favour to none; fear of none; jutice to all. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1896. IMPERIAL TRADE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8615, 19 December 1896, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. Favour to none; fear of none; jutice to all. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1896. IMPERIAL TRADE.

Mr Chamberlain's schem© for closer trade relations between Great Britain and her colonies wilt doubtless be remembered by our readers. Since its formulation the Premier of $ew Zealand has announced himself in favor thereof and wo take it that his anxiety now to arrange« Conference of Australasian Premiers in Welling* ton is part and parcel of his partiality for it, in fact he is no doubt adopting what ho considers practical measures in connection therewith:, If trade reciprocation in the direction indicated is to be brought about much work will have to be done at this end to fit in our tariffs and the Bpitish Government will have to do equally as much at the other end in putting asicje the JBelguim and sueli eotmftorcialtreaties, These comprise the initiatory steps. We cannot shut our eyes to the fact*. , however, that closer or oven preferential trade relations between Great Britain and her colonies is surrounded with great difficulties, and that the development of what is a fine ideal can only be a slow process, but at the same time there dan bo no reason why any timo should bo lost in going into tlm matter. We are looking forward to the ready acquiescence of tlifl Australian Premiers in Mr Seddon'a proposal. . The Sydney Daily Telegraph we notice, objects to the conference and says that if any agreement was come to it would have to be declared (iff if the federation scheme, which has occupied attention some tinio now, camp about, because whatever fiscal policy Australia might have it is unlikely it would provide for special tariff concessions to an unfederated colony. But after all in bringing up the scheme for a United Australia the first matter of detail will have to bo a systematic fiscal policy, and in that New Zealand should surely take apart* It seems to us thero is a* strong colonial feeling in favor of ono country and one flag, and no matter how far wo may want to go in throwing off minor ties wo will ever look up to Britain as practically tho Mother Country, trusting to her to defend us in time and danger as she will trust us and her other colonies to come to her a'd. .The question wo have touched upon is a very big one deservv in<y serious consideration and we hope Australasia as well as other parts of the Dominion will go deeply into it.