Imperial Mission.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 21, 25 May 1910, Page 44

Imperial Mission.

COLONIAL SPEAKERS ON ENGLISH PLATFORMS. PREFERENCE CAMPAIGN. LONDON, April 8. A colonial “mission” to preach Imperial preference on English platforms, was announced this week. Eight speakers from the colonies have consented to take part, and two more are on their way from Canada. Three meetings in London have been arranged for this month. The following communication appeared In the London papers:—■ “Citizens from the dominions overseas have decided to start a mission in this country on the subject of Imperial preference from the colonial standpoint. They will seek no platform which is formed by any political party, the speakers will not be supported by anyone except colonials on the platterm, unless it is considered desirable to have an English chairman. They will simply state their case and no resolution will be put. "It is felt that, owing to the great danger of the question of the House of Lords obscuring all others, by means of the above, and probably alone by these means, will bo possible to get public opinion once more aroused upon the question of Imperial preference, the immediate necessity of which is becoming every day more evident, and especially when the various treaties between Canada and foreign countries arc taken into consideration.” The “Times” devotes a leader to this announcement, and while expressing the warmest sympathy with the spirit ami Intention of the hemo, comes down on it r:>tie r heavily, thus; "We fi el hound to point out that as * practical departure it needs to be most keenly scrutinised. Much as its pro-

moters may desire to avoid all contact or collision with our domestic controversies, they can hardly hope to avoid it altogether, and they can certainly not expect to be welcomed with equal cordiality by Unionists and Liberals alike. Their mission is not entirely academic, nor can it be addressed exclusively to Mr. Harold Cox.

LIBERALS’ RESENTMENT. “It will make, so far as it succeeds, for Unionist advantage, and Unionist advantage is Liberal loss. It can only, therefore, fail to be resented by a large section of the British electorate, if it also fails entirely of its designed effect. “The dilemma is a serious one, and it is not the only objection which may be urged against the scheme. Although there is a large majority in every dominion in favour of Imperial preference, there are also minorities which take a different view. If the majorities send, representatives to this country, the minorities will send them too. Liberal organisers are not more innocent than Unionist organisers, and they will see to that. Wherever one set of speakers goes, there in all human probability another set of speakers w ill go, and the result will not make for Imperial consolidation, but very much tire reverse. “The fact is that, although colonial opinion, rightly and properly impressed upon the electorate, should exercise an enormous influence, it is not to bo impressed in this manner without great danger and comparatively little effect.” The moral which the “Times” draws from the situation is that a cheaper cable service is the best way to bring colonial opinion to bear upon English controversies. “There would be no need of platform assertions, which will always be followed by platform denials.”