PATRIOTIC RESOLUTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 320, 22 January 1902, Page 2

PATRIOTIC RESOLUTION.

BOROUGH COUNCIL CONGRATULATES MR CHAMBERLAIN.

SUGGESTION BY MR LYSNAR

At, tiie meeting of the Borough Council last night, His Worship the Mayor moved the following resolution : — 11 That this Council congratulates the Hon. J. Chamberlain upon his vigorous repudiation of the slanderous attacks made upon tiie British nation and army by Continental critics, and upon his spirited defence of the reality and intensity of colonial patriotism, and that this; Council is glad the Imperial Parliament is determined to see the war through, and trusts Coronation Day may see peace in South Africa.” The motion was greeted with applause, and was seconded by Cr Harding.

Tiie Mayor said that a resolutio was desirable, more particularly a they were being asked to send anothe t contingent. Such a request showe that the Imperial Government wer determined to prove to the Boers an to foreign nations that thev had suffi cient good men who could he calle, 1 from all quarters of the globe. I would also show those still holdin; 1 out that they were fighting for a hope less cause. Cr Lysnar suggested that the motioi might be made to go further, and hi went on to urge that now was an op portune time for Great Britain ti have a discriminating tariff by wliicl the foreign nations that were helpinj to prolong the war would have to con tribute something to the cost by tax ation on their goods, while the colo nies which were ever readv to help tin Mother Country were placed on a better footing in regard to their goods Through the competition of these foreign nations that were slandering the British and doing their best to prolong the war, the colonies would have their main staples much affected. No j doubt it was a verv delicate question for the Imperial Government, as anyI thing that tended to increase the cost j of living would lead to an outcry. But resolutions :ram tiie colonies would strengthen the hands of the Imperial Government-, and it could be shown to the mass of people tnat such a movement was a prudent one. Russia was commencing to export great quantities of butter to England, and German manufacturers were sending goods to all British possessions. People who would cut our throats to-morrow if they had the power were being treated on equal terms to the colonies. Tiie Mayor said that a difficult problem had been raised, commerce being so interwoven. When our Premier and Government did not care to enter into the question it would seem ill-advised for that Council to do so 'in connection with a motion of this kind. It

was a subject better left tothe Chamber of Commerce, which would have all tiie documentary evidence to enable them to deal with the subject. Cr Kennedy heartily agreed with Cr Lysnar in the spirit of his remarks but he thought with the Mayor that it would be better to refer the matter to the Chambers of Coriimerce. He believed that one of the strong planks of the platform at the Conference of Premiers in London during Coronation time would be to see if the colonies could not get some special recognition as against foreign nations, and it would be a good thing for the Chambers of Commerce to strengthen the Premier’s hands by asking him to bring it on there.

Cr VShinray said that the Chamber of Commerce intended going into the subject, and it was allowed to stand accordingly, the original motion being carried.