The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 11, 1903. THE PREMIER’S APPEAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 913, 11 June 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 11, 1903. THE PREMIER’S APPEAL.

From Uic lull report of Air Seil(lou’s speech at Uokilika il, appears I hat he made a strong appeal in favor of the proposed preferential tarilT. lie claimed that what had been propounded was no departure from freetrade principles.. lie declared that had Cohden, Bright, and other writers foreseen the altered conditions, and nations erecting absolutely prohibitive harriers against British goods, they would have said, “ You must meet these altered conditions even by adopting the same policy,” which was the only way for Britain lo successfully break down the fiscal barriers against her. The Premier, after referring to the American coastwise laws as against British trade, said that it was monstrous for Britain to maintain an inac'tivc policy, whilst other nations were profiling thereby. Germany and America were invading British trade, and British communities would lie surprised to know that the retail prices were higher in America than in New Zealand. These prices enabled them to export at low prices. But their high tariff presented a harrier against which other nations could not compete. America’s impel'sto New Zealand were steadily increasing, but our exports to America were decreasing. lie had a

warm feeling for America, but lit was an ishinaii first. Anythin!; that weakened the Umpire weakened the furthest-, outpost, thereof ; while other nations were strengthening armies and fleets, the colonies were in reality finding them the means to do so. Such a statement will be immediately challenged, and must he set down as an inexcusable exaggeration The way out of the situation, said the Premier, was to he a self-con-tained nation. lie quoted from the speeches of American .Senators hearing out his contention as to the injurious effects of the American tariff and coastwise laws on British trade. The American Treasurer, he remarked. had claimed that the ultimate sovereignty of the Pacific would he transferred from the Union Jack to the Stars and Stripes. Recently a similar view had been given expression to by President. Roosevelt. lie (the Premier) took it that the meaning was to rule the Pacific by trade, and not by mcn-of-war. That simply meant filching the trade from the .Mother country. Again the Premier weakened his position by talk of the supremacy being fought for. If America or any other nation “ filches ” the trade it will he because the people of the colonies give if of their own freewill. Air Seddon. however, gets on to more solid ground when he asks, Where was the use of aiding the Mother Country as they had done if other nations reaped the advantage ? Why should Britain and Ireland he reduced to a recruitingground for alien countries ? That, he said, was proved by emigration from the Mother Country owing to lha unsatisfactory conditions prevailing.

There was room for great expansion of trade in the Mother Country. The colonies could not get orders completed under two years, and New Zealand had to go to America for locomotives and rails, while there was difference of one pound per ton for rails in favor of Germany. Capitalists who were selfishly content in so doing wrought lasting harm to the Umpire. If Great Britain lost her commercial and industrial supremacy

there would he no necessity for a British fleet—another most absurd statement, if the Premier is correctly reported, tie made a strong plea when he said that he was sure the people of the colony were with him :n treating this question, not as one of freetrade against protection, but as one of patriotism, country, Con-.-.’ji u; ion. ..lei bag. and that we would si and by and help.. Continuing. he -n.h Unit the fullest investigat .on -Inn.id take place, and an, alarming condition of tilings would lie disclosed, such as were made by

the Moseiey Commission, when they found America giving England raw cotton, but only that which she could not manufacture herself, besides obtaining a good price lor it. With improved machinery and conditions Great Britain was losing ground in the Pacific. American cotton was taking the place of English. Even in India America was gaming a footing Upon the state of things disclosed by the Moseley Commission.

Lancashire cotton manufacturers adopted American customs and improved their methods. He had no fear now as to the result, hut they in New Zealand could help by giving them preference before a country that blocked everything British. 'Lite great weakness was English indifference, and it was necessary to remove tins indifference, to do which they must have full investigation. The colonics, tic said, were prepared to

make the following sacrifices outlined in tlie proposals made by the Conference: Ten per cent. more duty upon goods from alien countries compared with those of Britisn manufacture carried in British ships. It, was urged that ten per cent, ail valorem did not, amount to

much, also that by reducing our duties on English manufactured goods we might injure local industries, but after careful discussion it was decided to fall into line with Canada, and to allow the present duties to

obtain on goods brought in in British ships and increase the duties on goods manufactured in other countries. That would save their industries, give British manufactures an advantage, and that Parliament was lo be asked lo ratify. He trusted the colony in Hie matter, tie said, and felt that the time was ripe for

it. By such an offer the people at Home would realise that they were in earnest about it. Of course they could get, their goods in the cheapest market. If their offers were scouted, and their advice scoffed at by those at Home, this position would he forced on them, they would linil the collides reciprocating with alien countries. This threat from the Premier could well have been left, unsaid. lie, however, qualified it by saying that he would he sorry to he a party to a reciprocal treaty with any alien country, seeing that that would injure the Mother Country. There were, he said, three courses open—lo maintain the present policy of drift ; to make overtures, and to aslv the .Mother Country to assist the colonies, who in turn would assist the Mother Country ; an 'arrangement between Britain and Canada, giving the power of reciprocating with other British colonies. He thought there should he a law providing for reciprocity with Canada and the Commonwealth. He added that reciprocity with alien nations would come as a last extreme in the event of their proposals being scouted by the Mother Country. Why

liie Premier should make such ridiculous threats is hard to understand and probably by so doing he will alienate a good deal of support, from the preferential proposals. For the people of New Zealand it is quite sufficient, to consider Ihc whole subject from a patriotic and trade point of view, and it is wrong for the Premier or any one else to hint at reprisals. We hope that in this mailer the Premier has been misunderstood, otherwise lie is deserving of the warm censure of all patriotic people. Continuing his speech, the

Premier claimed that there would be no loss whatever oT foreign trade by reeiproeily between Great Britain ami the colonies, for the reason that nothing more could he done by foreign nations than is done at the present. time. They merely sent Great Britain what the latter could manufacture herself. In his opinion, the dread of losing foreign trade was not well founded. The increase in British territory and population was much greater than in the United Slates. It was now for the great Home to meet and discuss the question, apart from polities. He had for years contended for a council at whose table should sit those with special knowledge as to the colonies and the Mother Country. Then a solution of these problems could be arrived at. He expressed regret al Great Britain being so dependent on other nations for food supplies, and that the preferential tariff proposed would mean the increasing of the population and more rapid development of the colonies. Mr »Seddon's speech would undoubtedly have been regarded as a notable contribution in tile discussion on the subject, but if there was really the threat of siding with aliens because of pique at the Motherland's indifference, then Hie least said about it the better..