The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1906. THE APPEAL TO THE COLONIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13012, 27 June 1906, Page 4

The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1906. THE APPEAL TO THE COLONIES.

The appeal issued by the Cobden Club to ■' the electors of the Commonwealth putsthe case against preference in a nutshell./ For the British -workman, preference means-' the taxation of his food, and a» the manifesto says, "no offer within the power of the colonies could compensate for atax on food." The London "Times," which has given the weight of its., influence to Mr Chambeilain's .soheme, attempts to destroy the effect of the Cobden. Crab's appeal by playing upon the cupidity of the colonies. "They are aware," ifc says, "that their products under preference', would be free, while only extra-. Imperial products would be taxed." The argument is a shameless invitation to the colonies to exhibit the utmost selfishness bf which they are capable. There islittle hope for the stability of the Empire if it has to be held, together by a scheme baeed on, the lowest elements in human nature. It may be true, as is often said, that there is do sentiment in business, and . self-interest may prompt the "colonies, to "follow the/ course at which the" "Times", so broadly Hints, but If-they, do so, they -cannot complain if <the Bri- ~, tish. taxpayer begins to take a strictly commercial account of his relations witW the colonies, and to throw off some o£ the burdens which he now bears for their benefit. Should the present amicable, .re- r lafions: be disturb?d, the fault will; lie ■ with those politicians at Home who have .done their best to .use the colonies as m their own game. In tanking contrast to the unscrupulous way m whieii Mi Chamberlain and his disciples have misrepresented colonial opmion, is the frank and honest appeal .issued by the Cobden Club Piefeience, as u says, has *ie\ei been afked for by the Commonwealth It is an emanation .from>th'e bioi. of Mi Chaiibefu'r,, -nL O ha,, never l to declaim about the "offer" from i the i lonies, but Tjho has filled to take up iepe?ted challenges to J s.iy wat that offer is, 'and when if wa* made The colon»es have always recognised that Brifiscal pohcy is a matter for Britain's own electoi , and they have no more desire to interfere in the fiscal system' of the Mother Country than the Cobden Club has to interfere with theirs We should ' all, of*. fcours_e, be delighted if the huge Mipphes of food imported into Great Brf- ' tain could be obtained solely from the colo-ies, but a refeience»to statistics which we have already quoted on more than one occasion shows that the greater propoition is drawn from foreign countries, and a tax on that would mean a serious thing for the British consumer And ■when all is said and done, what leturra would the colonies make" for preferential treatment for the gram and meat and dairy produce' Their total imports are not a tremendous item m Butarn's trade, while their whole ten'dency is to curtail their support of the British manufacturer by fostering and developing their own sbdustr,ies. The Preefradeis, represented by the Cobden Club, make r- no complaint of this All they ask k that the cbloniea r should work out their own salvation in the way they think best, and allow tlh« people at Home to do the same It is a perfectly reasonable lequest and one •nuich, we think, will commend itself to every fair minded colonial.