PREFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 34, 4 November 1907, Page 5

PREFERENCE

THE CHANCELLOR AND MR. HEWINS. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. by TEf.EGßArn—ritrai association— copyright. (Rcc. Nov. 3., 4.3 p.m.) London, Novcmher 2. Mr. 'William Hev.'ins, Secretary of the Tariff Commission, in a letter to " Tho Times," states that he is perfectly prepared to accept tho chullcngo of Mr. Asquith (Chancellor of the Exchequer), if Mr. Asquith will stato definitely and concisely the arguments and statistics upon which ho stands. According to Saturday's cablegram!!, tho nhsinccllor of the Exchequer repeated his cliallonßO to the Tory lenders to stato whether they, in order to obtain colonial preference, \ver!> pri'pawd to tax corn, or jiient, or. wool. The Tariff Commission was established by Mr. Chamberlain, sind began its sittings early in lfldl.. It hp.s reported on the iron and steel trade, the cotton industry, "Preference in relation to trade between the United Kingdom and Canada," and on other subjects), the latest being the new Australian Inrifi. The Commission war. established to examine-Mr. Chamberlain's fiscal proposals, and to report on (a) their probablf! effect on present conditions; (b) whether anv (and, if so, what) modifications are desirable; (c) tho best way in which conflicting interests, should there be such, rain be harmon-

iscd; and (dj what dutius, if any, should lie recommended. Mr. Chamberlain is-Eon. President 6f the Commission. Mr. A\ illinm A. S. Ilowins, M.A., was Director of the London School of Economics from 180. r > to 1001], Teacher of Modern Economic History in the University of London from 1902 to 1903, and. a member of the Senate of the University nf London from 1900 to 190:1. Among his publications are: "Imperialism ami its probable effect on the Commercial Policy of tho United Policy of tho United Kmr-loiii," 1901; I lie article "Economies" in (lie fancy. lirit., 1902, and many articles on fiscal policy. GENERAL CABLE NEWS, $ RAIN IN NEW SOUTH "WALES. Bl' TEI.EGRAni —P11E53 ASSOCIATION—COPYIUGHT. (Rec. Nov. 4, 1.18 a.m.) . Sydney, November 3. Useful rain in falling in tho coastal districts, antl the outlook for its continuance is promising. LATE SHIPPING. ' Nowcastio, November 3. Arrived: Aymeric, from Now Zealand. . Melbourne, November 3. ■ Arrived: Brisbane (from Kaipara), and Mocraki. PLAGUE. London, November 1 . I'lnguo has appeared at Tunis, capital .. f tho French Protectorate in Africa, and at Oram, an Algerian port. NEW ZEALANDERS SEEK LAND IN QUEENSLAND. Brisbano, November 2. Threo Now Zealand sottlers, representing others in tho Taranaki district, have arrived here, seeking laud-. TASMANIAN. POLITICS. , Hobart, November 2. . Tho Legislative Council has negatived the second reading of the Free Education Bill FEDERAL TARIFF. Melbourne, November 2. In committee oil the Tariff Tiill the Federal House reduced tho match duties to Is, on foreign and Gd. on English. The du f y on condonsod milk was reduced to 2d., with a proforcn'ce duty of thrce-halfpence. POLITICS IN "WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ' Perth, November 2. In tho State Legislative Assembly. tho Leader of tho Opposition 'opposed tho Land olid Incomc Tax Bill because tho exemptions Mere not high onough to reliove tho workers from the burdens of tho now taxation. A motion to adjourn tho dobato was carried against the Government by a majority of four. RAILWAY STRIKE IN ITALY. Romo, November 1. A striko has begun on tho Stats .railway, as a protest against tho punishment of tlioso railway servants who rccontly struck at Milan. LOSS OF THE CONSTANCE CRAIG. . [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Cisbornc, November 2. Tho nautical enquiry into tho loss of tho barque Constanco Craig was held this morning before Mr. Rarton, S.M., and Captains Ware and Must. Evidence was givon by Mr. Hawloy, Collector of Customs, Captain Cumming, Harbourmaster, and Captain Chrisp and Mr. E. J. Chrisp, managing owtior, as to tho soa-wortliiness of tho vessel prior to hot! departure from this port. Tho finding of tho Court was that tho ship sailed from Gisborno on July 15, and as she had not boon seen or heard of sinco tho Court was of opinion that she was lost at -sea on : or about July 15, and that she left port in ! sand ballast, and that at tho time of her dc--1 parturo was sea-worthy and well-found in all j respnets. ; THE WHEAT AND FLOUR DUTIES BILL. Timaru, November 3. Tho chairman, directors, and manager of i tho Farmers' Co-oporativo, which ifi- largely . interested in the grain (ratio, agree that the - Wheat and Flour Duties 15ill, if carried, can I work nothing but mischiei, and will tend still t further to lesson tho alroady much-reduced ' growth of wheat by introducing an element \ of uncertainty into tho farmers' forecast, L' especially as no price limit is named as the starting point for ail inquiry into prices. A speculative element in the shape of a hopo of a I profitablo price has always tended to increaso t tho area in wheat, ami tinkering with tho - duty will go far to destroy such n hopo. ; Moreover, they consider it unfair to single o | out two related industries for the application > of a new fiscal principle.