PREFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13288, 17 May 1907, Page 5

PREFERENCE.

STATEMENT BY THE CHANCELLOR

Copyright —May 16, 9.59 a.m. LONDON, May 15

Mr Asquith, speaking in the. House of Commons, said that under the frank discussion on preference the. Colonial .Premiers and the 'Government had agreed to differ, but he thought they were- better fritnds ■ than ever. Britain would be mad to inti-.rfere with the coionies in the full exercise of fiscal autonomy, while the colonies would be acting like fools, and Hying in the teeth of their own economic system, if they allowed British manufacturers to undermine their native industries.

A GREAT RECEPTION.

SOME INTERESTING SPEECHES

Copyright—May 16th. 10.3 p.m. LONDON, May 16.

A crowded meeting of city men, held at tlu'i Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange, gave Dr Jannson and Mr Deakin a

remendotts reception,

Dr Jameson said that he was disappointed that the Conference had not made a decisive step forward in the direction of consolidation of the Empire. Whatever bad been achieved/ was mainly due to Mr Deakin's energy, pluck, and eloquence. The substitution of the word '"' imperial" instead of Colonial Conference meant- the emancipation of the Conference from the aegis of the Colonial Office—it. meant that future Conferences would be as between the Governments. Dr Jameson regretted that effective machinery for the consolidation of the Empire had not been obtaiend owing to the secretariat,'after the hardest fight at the Conference, remaining a department of the Colonial Office. He was convinced that the present arrangements would prove such a failure that the Premiers would obtain efficient machinery at the next Conference. Dr Jameson argued that sentimental and material links were required to cement the Empire ; and complained that the British' Government had not attempted to 'answer the Premiers' case for preference —they had only knocked down the bogueys of their own erection. He believed that the British Government were afraid to make even a little, experiment in' the direction of reciprocal trade, because it woidd prove a success.

Mr Beakin emphatically denied that the Premiers had in the slightest degree attempted to embarrass the Government from party political motives. !H\o reciprocity was possible, unless preference was mutual. Australia, was prepared to build her half of the bridge to the centre arch, where she must await the Motherland's approach before the keystone was dropped which completes the structure. Mr Beakin declared that many of the arguments that had been advanced to prevent tariff reform, were absolutely contrary to Australian experience. He ridiculed the importance attached to the phrase " immutable laws " in connection with freetrade; " imaginary laws" were truer. He dwelt on the small .success sixty years' advocacy of free trade had upon "the world, and declared that farsighted foreigners already foresaw the advent of preference in the- British •Empire, and were taking measures to secure the best markets which would be found in the British colonies. If a prospect of preference did that, what would not a It) per cent, duty accomplish. Australians, were freetraders to the extent of one-third of their imports ; and were adopting frestrade or protection, according an it paid best. Mr Beakin argued that commerce needsd fostering, and that- it was impossible to apply the principle of cooperation better than in developing the resources of one's .own nation. Many people argued thai the Empire's strength vested on the ships engaged, in the colonies' commerce: hut without commerce there would be neither ships nor colonies. The Empire was not only a great armed force, a civilising agency, a school of culture —■ V) was a" gigantic business enterprise which ought to be directed on business principles-. The Government's principal aim ought to be to fortify and sustain commerce. If their ancestors fought to establish it, surely it was worth while to protect it. The Premiers wished to see' the whole machinerv of commerce, as well as that of public' life, applied to securing unity of the Empire Although the Conference had failed to accomplish much directly, yet the indirect results had repaid the sacrifices the delegates had made to attend it. When other nations found commerce and commercial unity so enormously valuable as a means of developing national life, why should Britain throw aside so potent :iii instrument? The. colonies' hands were still outstretched, because they recognised that the present polite refusal of preference was only temporary.' Since the Empire's whole force was employed to protect trade "in war time, surely it was justifiable to expect this country and the, Empire to protect trade; in times of peace. In concluding Mr Beakin said : " The colonies believe in you; even if you have ceased to believe in yourselves. We believe that within this nation lies a force capable of rousing you to greater, to more lofty heights, than ever, enabling you to retain the proud position your forefathers placed you." Mr Deakin's remarks were followed by prolonged cheers, the audience singing " For They are Jolly Good Fellows."

SIR J. G. WARD'S VIEW.

Copyright—Mav 17th. 12.7 a.m. LONDON. May 16.

Sir J. G. Ward: in his address" at the New Zealand dinner, said that the Premiers did not. expect that their views on preference would . be accepted. They, were content to lay the principle before the Motherland, and were not egotistical enough to say : "You must follow!" Sir Joseph "Ward, in a speech at Brislol, dwelt on the influence of the Colonies in ' rejuvenating and strengthening the Motherland in the development of interImperial trade, as a means of closer union.