SPEECH BY THE FEDERAL PREMIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7848, 30 October 1903, Page 2

SPEECH BY THE FEDERAL PREMIER.

THE PREFERENCE PROPOSALS.. (Received October 30, lO.lk a.m.) MELBOURNE, October 30. Mr Deakin dealt at length with Mr Chamberlain's proposals, and said' that our interesta were very largely bound up with the Mother Country, because of the huge debt we owe in London, the huge business we do in London, and! because our diplomatic interests were safeguarded in London. H«: regarded preferential trade as a means of increasing the population and employment, and dteclared! that a protectionist tariif was not inconsistent with preference. Wihen Mr Chamberlain make« his specific proposals, they will receive mosfb cordial, most hearty and most generous consideration 'from the Australian Government. They would ibe only a prelude to a vested trade between Australia and England. He had been asfced to say whether; the Government was prepared to consider reductions as well as increases. It was certainly prepared to consider them as they affect' each industry ; but our tariff was so low that it offers few opportunities for reduction, but where we cannot make reductions we can increase against the foreigner. The issue of the elections Mr Deakin defined to be) national trade against foreign trade, and! preferential trade against trade with"* the. foreigner. . He concluded with a hope thait this will become known as the Ballarat cry of fiscal peace and preferential trade for white Australia. He had a good reception, and a resolution of confidence was carried. (Received October. 30, 10.40 a.m.) MELBOURNE, October 30. . Arguing in favour of preferential trade, Mr Deakin, the Federal Premier, said: We must follow the example of that enterprising and capable leader, the Premier of New Zealand 1 , who has always been fully • alive to the interests of his •colony. In this matter he fcas realised in advance of* most of us the advantages to be gained, and has stepped forward to obtain {hern. It was impossible to forecast- how this reciprocity would develop, 'but besides Britain there was one splendid prospect of trade" with South Africa./ and we might help New Zealand to share that.