PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXIX, Issue 12110, 3 July 1903, Page 3

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

— z. —♦ United Press Association^-Per Electric '£eiegra|>n —(Jopyrignt. Received 9.20 a.m., July-2nd. LONDON, July 1. Although 150 Unionist: Commoner* fa•vour tiie fiscal enquiry, fifty per cent, of the party, chiefly lepresenting combined nrbau and rural "constituencies, decline to be present or participate, either in a concerted movement or the electoral.campaign Coring the rece-s ~.•.•;: - The-South Wiles lion .ind Steel Workers' Sliding (scale" Couinntlee. has adopted a jesojufjon'supporting Mi ChamberJaiiv,.. with •i recommendation ~u it*a. reasonable altera*-' tion should be m.i e, placing the iron and steel industries on an equality with competitors abroad. Lord Cirnngco-i ->'e idea at an urgency meeting cf the N..irrdl Liberal Club, and ,i resolution w j* ■ - med viewing Mr Chamberlain's prop-"- i'i i uh ..la-.m. Earl Grey asserted that the pie.;ent suspense was unfair to the count'v and could not last. Sir Charles Dilke*said the issue was so stupendous that if the Radicals were unable to sweep the country on this question lie would be willing to support a Government of freetrade Tories, or a coalition. The country must tell Mr Chamberlain that it would rot consent to a tax on food, and tell Mr Balfour that, while the cry of retaliation might mislead the unwary, it would build up a wall of protection, and introduce under shelter of the wall protected industries, of which the country might never get rid. Received 11.39 p.m.. July 2nd . LONDON, July 2.., The Council of the Colonial Institute -unanimously and heartily concurred in Mr. Balfour's and Mr Chamberlains' suggestion that Imperial fiscal relations should be thoroughly examined. Received 0.52 a.m., Jjily 3rd. The Right Hon.; Henry Hobhonse. mem-. ber. for Somerset .'Eastern), who presided at a meeting of 54 Fi eetrade Unionist Commoners, explained that their aim was to assist the Government and ensure a fair enquiry. A committee was .appointed to examine the probab e effect of the suggested changes on the unity of the Empire, and the social and industrial welfare of the - i. - - - - -- -j - - -

United Kingdom, and to explain to the country the objections of a protective taxation on> imports. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach stated that the meeting wished to save the party from a,' crushing defeat. The conference of Unionists on the 24th June had evidently been organised by the Protectionists. Mr Chamberlain's scheme, if adopted, would provoke a strong struggle between colonial and Home interests. He criticised the proposals with a view of showing the impracticability of compensating consumers for the increased cost of food by readjusting the duties on tea, sugar, and tobacco. Viscount Goschen doubted- whether Mr Chamberlain was able to sweep the country, as «o many Unionist members were against him. He denounced Mr Chamberlain's fiscal policy as most dangerous, and urged the necessity of restricting the inquiry to statistical information having the Government stomp; private compilation was not a sufficient authority. 'The Liberal Freetrade Commoners - have formed a committee embracing colleagues J associated wfth commerce,,- to secure ade- I quate ventilation of views connected with I the present controversy. • I