PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 919, 18 June 1903, Page 1

PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

VARIATION OF OPINIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association-* Copyright. LONDON, June Hi. Viscount Goschen, in asking in the House of Lords that correspondence with Germany in relation to Canada be laid on the table, sympathised with Mr Chamberlain’s object, but. described his schemes as gambling with the people’s food. lie animadverted on Mr Seddon’s impetuousness. Both sides in Great Britain, he said, should he equally free to discuss the issue. He added that the inquiry ought to, be impartial, the Government not putting to Departments consulted leading questions, or asking a mandate before the result of the inquiry was known.

Lord Lansdowne reassured Lord Goschen on those points. The sole object, he said, was to ascertain the truth. Nobody was committed to Mr Chamberlain’s plan, which was •a basis for discussion.

lie added that Germany, in the course of negotiations, which were still pending, plainly intimated that if the other colonies followed Canada’s example, the Motherland would probably have “ most favored ” treatment. lie hoped that Great Britain would he able to adopt treaties suitable to the requirements of the colonies, and, as we hardened our hearts in the case of sugar, it was possible to deal in a similar spirit with similar aggressions in other industries. The present helplessness of our manufacturing and productive interests was almost intolerable. Lord Balfour of Burleigh said he was not opposed to inquiry, but expected little to result from it. The Duke of Devonshire averred that the burden of proving the case for fiscal changes lay with Mr Chamberlain and his colleagues. He did not object to inquiry, but the great question was the economic efi'ect of a tax on food and other changes on an international equality with external trade and industry. You cannot,” he argued, “ solve that by counting votes.” If he knew that every worker of the Motherland and all the colonies were prepared to join in the experiment, he would

! iot participate unless convinced, in heart and conscience, that the experiment was justified on sound econo-

mic grounds and would benefit

great mass of the people as well as the more favored of the workers. If

he change led to a diminution of

foreign Home trade, starvation,hardship, and discontent at Home, tnere would he no swifter means of dissolution of the Empire. If it were made cleat that the Cabinet under-

took the inquiry with an open mind

he personally believed in the result of the inquiry there might he found some modification of the arrange-

ments calculated to make more unassailable a system founded on the essential principles of freetrade.

Lords Spencer and Brassey supported the present fiscal policy. Lord Jersey believed that a preferential tariff would not he beneficial to the Motherland or the colonies

It would have been better to enquire first and formulate a policy afterwards.

The debate has ended. The speeches by Lord Goschen and the Duke of Devonshire have gratified the freetraders. Lord Lansdowne’s disappointed them. it is considered that his views from an international standpoint are certain to carry weight in the country. The newspapers sharply comment on Lord Lansdowne’s revelation that Germany lias notified that it is probable that Great Britain will be excluded from the favored treatment if it accepts further colonial preference.

In the House of Commons, Mr Bonar, Law Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, in reply to a question, stated that the only countries wherein the imports from Great Britain did not receive complete. and most favored treatment were the United States, Portugal, and certain South American Republics. CAPETOWN, June Hi. Sir Gordon Sprigg, in moving the adoption of (lie Customs Convention in tlie Assembly, alluded to the oreference question in Great Britain, and stated tlmt lie was personally a freetrader, but the consolidation of the Empire was greater than freetrade.

Mr Farrar, of the Transvaal Legislature, stated that the Customs Convention, abolition of transit dues, and reduction of railway freight would save the Transvaal a million a year. Wheat at Johannesburg under the new tariff would be 55s per quarter. Instead of deploring the paucity of the colonial contribution to the Navy, Mr Ritchie had better adopt Mr Chamberlain’s suggestions for a covert partnership, based on business principles. MELBOURNE, June 17. Mr Irvine, the Premier, states Chat Mr Deakin was not warranted in informing the British Australasian that 'all tlie State Governments are favorable to the preferential policy. Tite Victorian Government has not expressed an opinion either way. MARTON, last night.

At a meeting of the Marton Farmers’ Union yesterday, a resolution was adopted that the branch is of opinion that a reduction should be made on all import duties front Britain, and does not view with approval the proposal of the Premier that an increase of duties should be placed on loreisa goods^