PREMIERS IN ENGLAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 455, 26 June 1902, Page 1

PREMIERS IN ENGLAND.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright .London, Juno 24. The Premiers, Agents General, and foremost notabilities attending the Coronation have been invited to attend an at home at Mr Chamberlain’s London residence. Mr Copeland convenes a meeting of Australian Agents-Gene'ral in support of Mr Barton’s attitude. Mr Seddon has suggested to Mr Chamberlain the subsidising of vessels flying the British flag conveying British goods, and is hopeful that something will result. Oxford University has conferred a Doctorship of Civil Laws on Mr Barton. The North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon at Stoke-on-Trent. Mr Barton, responding to the toast of the colonies, said that a vast number of colonials regard the fiscal policies, except as a sequence of moral principles, as expedients. How that would influence him at the Imperial Conference was a matter for speculation, even with himself. The English policy ought to be directed to cheapening steam, telegraphic, and mail transit between the Motherland and the colonies. He emphasised the illimitable resources, production, and trade of the Commonwealth. Mr Seddon said the colonies did not desire to raise the fiscal question, and to place the parties in the Motherland in mutual antagonism. They desired to help to bind together. Subsidies to steamers carrying British goods would be no interference with freetrade or protection.