THE PROFESSOR'S SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 788, 11 April 1910, Page 7

THE PROFESSOR'S SCHEME.

FREE-TRADE WITHIN THE EMPIRE. _ Professor Nicholson, who occupies the Onair of Political Economy in the Uni, versity of Edinburgh, put forward his .scheme in a recent volume, "A Project of Empire: A Critical Study of the Economics of Imperialism, with special reference to the ideas of Adam Smith." ±je points out that Smith favoured the idea of Imperial. Federation, and he develops his theory to the point that i if'our Empire is to be preserved undor modern conditions, the power of the sea must be upheld not merely by the United Kingdom , but by the United Empire": "The recognition of tho idea of nationality carries with it the recognition of the primary duty of defence? , ihere should be i Free-trade within the Empire, he says, and one Imperial i/ogislature and Executive for Imperial affairs. The funds for defence and Imperial administration should be raised by Customs duties and .by land taxes. His book concludes with these words: ■ "His [Adam Smith's] project was outlined when, by the stress of events, the choice seemed inevitable between disintegration and real union, It is not often, in the history of nations, that such a choice is twice offered; yet today it is offered to tho British people under circumstances that once more convert the project of Empire into a practical proposition. In parting, let us look at the_ main objects free from detail:, Imperial defence, 1 to which every nation or dominion or commonwealth or dependency or possession contributes its share; a system of representation by which--every responsible constituent ot ,T e . Jim P lro has a voice-in the co&» trol of the concerns or the whole: an immense internal market for every part ! .bfitho..produce of all tho-constituents • a customs union-and a common policy m commercial relations with other countoes.;, a, policy advprse .to any kind of imonppoly, and favourable' to' everything that increases the revenue and prosperity of the great body of poople' throughout the Empire." •■■'•■