PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1053, 16 February 1911, Page 5

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

—. —« _ POSITION IN SOUTH AFRICA. ABOLITION OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS PROBABLE. RECENT RUMOUR REVIVED. Dγ Telceriph-Preßi Aiioclatlnn-Oopyrlilit (Roc. February 15, 0.50 p.m.) London, February 15. Several South African politicians favour tho Union.contributing to' tho Imperial Navy nit''.amount; equivalent to a certain'perccntago'on "tho value "of goods imported 'into! South' 'Africa,'in lieu of the continuation of preference to British goods. ■ ■ Despite the official declaration by General Botha of the proposed abolition of the preferential tariff, the newspapers generally believe that aproposal to substitute a defence contribution for preference- has been discussed. Tho "Westminster Gazette" states that if the British Treasury got an equivalent sum, tho Empire, instead of special raanufacturers, would benefit. ;. : "The Tinics" Capetown correspondent declares tit. is true that tho substitution was discussed, butMtwas deemed expedient .to omit preference from the agenda for the conferenoe. Thoro is ii gfowing feeling among the leaders on both sidea in politics that unless there are,reciprocal concessions preference ynlikejy to bo permanent. ~'7'.'!-''. "'-..'•'■■.'.