The Preference of Trade

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1199, 13 December 1904, Page 2

The Preference of Trade

The Gr:at Deputation Speech by Sir Michael Hicks-Beach Reply by Mr' Balfour Pross Association.—Copyright, London, December 12 In tho deputation to Mr, B.ilfour there were also present the Chancellor ol tho fixchequor, tho Hon Arthur Gyttelton aid Sir George Clarke. lii his introduction Sir 11. HicksBeach said that tho deputut on ropoiwentcd fifty Peers and Cominonors, many exGovernors, bankers, Lloyds.'and mombors of Clumbers of Commerce Ho added : " It is not quite just that the necessary and common burden and defence of tho empire should bo carried solelj by forty millions in Britain and hardly any by the ten millions in tho self-iMveriiim; colonies, The conference of 1902 adinimd the common responsibility of tho omiro empiro, Tho deputation hiul not cmnpl lined in the past, though Canada had not contri bnted a penny orasingloman to the naval d, fonce; but chunks and development in • ho naval streng h uf great counties wnro proceeding, which might mure vitally affect the colonies than Britain. Coiisiderinn the effect of thoao developments, he declared his deliberato coniontion ns an old Chancellor that |withont recourse lo tho pernicious system of borrowing the British taxpayers wero unable 10 bear alone the increasing burden of naval defence, and tho depumiion hoped that any conforenco which might take placo on this subject wmild be received with the consideration which iis onorwom ami urgent importance demanded, He said ho behoved that the cotonies were willing to tikon fiir sluro of tho burden, but it was 'ho primary duty o( the Govormont to show a forcfiont.

Mr. Bulfour, in reply, said he donbtaJ whethor any Prime Minister had received a more impoitant or influential deputation ' or had evor had laid boloro him a subject of grottter importance. It was impossible to avoid seeing the onoruious forces, which might, become hostile, marshalled round the world, and to see the possibility of comlmuiiio'.s and meiHces which might threaten pins of the Empire, Ho was tumble to deny the facts laid boforo hi.n, jr to minimise thoir significance The facts wero worthy of tho atton- • tion of tho wholo Empire, but tho arithmetical comparisons botwoon the Motheilnnd and colonies would not solvo tho problo.il, The empire must consider tho growth and tendency of events. The deputation had rightly not attacked the colonies. Britain luul 'treated them as children, and witched diem in their curliest and most holplcss years with maternal care. Tho process of burden must be gradually but not unduly pressed. He greatly desired a colonial conference. Its necessity was duo tp tho confcrovorey, which had nothing immediately or directly to do, though indirectly it was doubtless connectod, with tho present subjeot, It was impossible ami improper for such a con. forcneo to ho confined to a closer commercial union with r.he colonies, or to be restricted from tho discussion of anything connoctod wiili tho closer union of tho empi o, One of tho fundamental conditions essential to the value of tho conference was that its meetings would bo un» Tampered and llnfoiterod, Ho earnestly trusted ihnt each fragment of tho empire would consider, not how much it would obtain from other parts, but rather how much oach would give to tho common whole; mid defence certainly stood in tho first rank of the c unmnn object The Dnko of Norfolk and Sir John Oolomb also spoke, Mr T. Brasscy, in a letter to Sir John Colomb, urges that it is inadvisable to submit questions to the Conference, and mentions that ibo Australians havo increased tho coiitribudon to the navy,

AGENT GENERAL'S VIEW Press Association.—Copyriglit. London, Decomber 12 Mr. Grainier, Agent-General for South Australia, interviewed, said he opposoil iiny Ans'alian contribution, as Australia c.nldbi'Sflf-prniiciivfl. Porson«tlyliocon"iilcrcd that. the A|>eniß-Genoral' Imd nn oauso of complaint against Mossrs, Balfour's or Lviiolton's treaimont, but regrett"d ttmt New Foundland and Natal loomed lar»or in tho eyes of the Imperial Government than any Australian Siato,

PRESS OPINIONS Press Association.—Copyriglit. London, December 12 fho majority of tho nnwspupors pmisn Mr. Balfour's broad treatment of tho family idea that children could, if they wish, be partners. _ The Times says tho idea of placing the lineal question in juxtaposition to tho navnl question sols it in Hie iruo perspective, anil lift, it out of tho dust of tho parly arena, Tho Daily News ii«roes with Mr. Balfour in deprecating the bargaining spirit, but says that if tho naval contribution is over'coked the Motherland .'.annotin fairness ink for a tax on food on behalf of tho colonies,