IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13602, 23 May 1908, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

..;.' ••■ THE?TARIFF DEBATE.- ■ SCRAPS FROM THE LORDS. Press. Associatiou-By Telegraph-Copyright- . Received 11:21 p.m.-, May 22nd. . • . LONDON May 22. • . To-day;the tariff 'debate- : was resumed in i the-Hotis e of Lords. ' _ " Lord Avebury declared that if all. tb,e; rest of the', world' were.' protectionists Eng-. land ■ would still be wise to remain free trade. .' -."."', Lord-St.':Aldwyri is disagreeing, with _the thorough-going, partisans /of;. either policy, .declared ''that, something/must 'be done "to; improve -i the- relations', with'." the Colonies.; The" feeling ;in''favour of; preference was' 1 growing, .both: in the colonies 'and in the Motherland: He said; that no wise. Government could . neglect/ the movement. He- would-not-shrink'from'departing from strict free-trade,/ to obtain, if possible closer ■relations with the colonies. The Government were' blameable- for not offering at" the' last 'lmperial Conference to, subsidise fast ocean services, in. return for the duties • on British goods, such lowering to .'extend...to similar goods from, rival countries'.'. This would be in a'cfcordarice -with free .trade, and Britain' would'" lie able to beat' in : what it manu-factured-any'other, country, in the colonial market. After .Tev'ievring; the practical, difficulties involved hi'ii. policy of Imperial "preference, ,' he declared that, a change of 'fiscal policy if made ought to. lie based not on the action of perhaps a fleeting majority wiiose decision might be reversed later, thus dealing a blow, at tlje ties of. affection and goodwill; binding.the Motherland ~ and ■ the. colonies, but upon strong.sentiment representing the feeling, 'of.!the, whole country.. Lord Lansaowue that owing to the Government's negative attitude .at. the ■lmperial. Conference the .colonies had ;be? gun to travel, their own ,road. ... The Franco Canadian .agreement was the. first stage on the Journey. Lord Crewe said that it was impossible to consider the-question of;colonial -prefeiv ence in a vacuum: .If part- .of a change was so far-reaching .in-its. effects, it was hardly caleiilable what, adopting it might mean. It/might mean a leap into the ravine of protection.

The motion by the Duke. of Marlborough was ultimately withdrawn.