PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 921, 20 June 1903, Page 2

PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

A REMARKABLE DEBATE.

BALFOUR AND BANNERMAN ON THE QUESTION.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. LONDON, June 18.

Sir 11. Campbell Bannerman declared in the House of Commons that the fiscal resolution was launched in defiance oi constitutional rule, without the Cabinet’s approval, in opposition to Mr Ritchie's avowed opinion, and under no plea of urgency. Mr Balfour, reading .Sir Harry Rawsou's paragraph regarding the declaration of the Government, “ That,” he exclaimed, “ dc.es express the opinion of His Majesty's Government.” (Ministerial cheers.) “Would Sir 11. Campbell Bannerman,” asked Air Balfour, “ lie quiescent if foreign countries penalised the colonies for drawing closer to 1 lie Motherland? If the Opposition would only agree the right policy would he to support the colonies giving preferential tariff to our own manufactures. Then no false hopes could be raised and disappointment created. There would only he disappointment. if the Opposition came into power and abandoned the colonies.”

Sir Charles Dilke stated that Mr Balfour’s speech was a most momentous dcelartion, implying that the Government were in favor of retaliation.

Mr Balfour : 1 never mentioned retaliation, but. said that I did not mean to leave the colonies in the. lurch.

Interrupting Mr Robson, Mr Balfour added : I have not hesitated to say that if other methods failed, t would not shrink from retaliation ; but I am not ceratin that there are not other methods. Air Chamberlain said it was possible, if Great Britain had something wherewith to negotiate, countries like Germany would agree to a Vivendi, hut if they put Great Britain in a position necessitating it, wo must, try to find a remedy. He denied that the question was not urgent. The, colonies had raised questions. Great Britain did not desire to send Canada elsewhere for reeiprocal treatment. Without closer commercial union, the Empire would part into separate atoms. By two hundred and lifty-two to one hundred and thirty-two the motion was rejected. 'l'lie Nationalists abstained from voting. The Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress unanimously resolved to urge the workers to oppose Mr Chamberlain’s scheme. The Daily Express states that Mr Chamberlain has ascertained that HU per cent, of the Midland manufacturers support him. A Air Cohen, Acting Agent-General for Victoria, correcting Mr Deakin’s declaration that the Federal and all flic State Governments approved of Air Chamberlain’s proposals, states that Air Deakin’s is merely a personal estimate of Australian .sentiment, and that the Victorian Government has not expressed au opinion. ADELAIDE, June Iff.

'At a conference of the Chambers of Commerce, the President moved that the adoption by the Commonwealth of preferential trade relations was calculated to place the export trade of Australia at a serious disadvantage, inimical to the best inlerest.fi. of commerce. An amendment, declaring that the question required earnest thought and consideration,, and that the conference was unable to express an opinion until more fully acquainted with the details of tho proposals, was carried by one vote. A motion protesting against the representation made in official quarters, tiiat Australia was in favor of preferential duties, without an expression of opinion having been obtained from representative commercial bodies, was carried, also a motion urging the Federal Government to secure the repeal of enactments imposing double income tax in British colonies.

STATEMENT BY MR CHAM' BERLAIN.

By Telegraph —Press Assooiation— CLpynght Received 10.30 p.m., June 19.

Ottawa, Juno 19. Mr FielJi'jg, Minister for Finance, speuking. in the Dominion House of Commons, replying to Mr Tarte and others on the fact that only 28 membere of the House of Commons favored the corn duty, showed that .England was notrunning away from free trade. If was nouse pretending that .England was readily accepting Mr Chamberlain’s idea of corn duties or even his larger and more moderate scheme. Mr Chamberlain was destined to have an uphill fight before accomplishing his object. Canada’s sympathies were with him. Canada refused Mr Chamberlain’s original proposal of Im- *

perial free trade as inimical to industryWhat was now proposed were moderate duties in Canada and moderate duties in England upon things whereon England cared to have them.

London, June 19.

Replying to Sir Charles Dilke, Mr Chamberlain stated that Government considered Germany had made hostile discrimination against Canada calculated to prevent the Dominion’s right to enter into closer relations with the Motherland. The British Government resented that without' blaming Germany for exercising an undoubted right, so long as Britain tookßuch treatment lying down. That the mere suggestion of another policy stopped German newspapers advocating further discrimination in regard to Canada, apparently was a recognition that Britain’s patience was exhausted. The action of the Premiers’ Colonial Conference showed they were disappointed at our policy.