EMPIRE'S TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 949, 23 July 1903, Page 4

EMPIRE'S TRADE.

BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE.

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. LONDON, July . 21. The Duke of Devonshire, speaking

at the annual meeting of the British Empire League, held at the Mansion House, said it advisable, upon the trade within the Empire question, that the colonies and the Motherland should speak in the plainest terms. Starting as a colonial question, it had now reached a stage rendering it far more a matter of internal British politics. It was no. longer a question of a matter of sentiment, but-of practical business.

If the Motherland were to be induced to assent to any considerable changes in fiscal arrangements' she must do it in her,own interest, not simply as- a, means of conciliating the colonies. ginCe • the colonial Premiers had initiated a new policy presumably the colonies .would cheerfully, p erhaps enthusiastically, accept it. Hitherto the question had been very inadequately discussed, 'even from a colonial standpoint. It was very easy to' pass resolutions infavor of trade preference, 5 but- • not so easy'to-prepare a scheme of preference admittedly fair on just ■ to -the-Motherland or each of the colonies. . These advantages would only he securable by; means of something in the nature of a bargain to .which "each party v wbuld be bound to adhere. It , could hardly be doubted that the colonies would be called on to surrender some independence, and some of the perfect freedom of action in fiscal, commercial, and industrial legislation, to which hitherto they had attached great -importance. Freet-rade within the Empire was a great, magnificent and splendid idea, but the Motherland and the colonies approached it from different standpoints. Sic Edward Grey thought that an Imperial Advisory Council, such as Mr Haldane had suggested, would be useful in preventing Imperial issues becoming matters of controversial politics. The Times, dealing with the question of preferential trade, expresses a hope that the other colonies will show something of the spirit of ‘give-and-take which prompted Canada to give before there was anything to take. It adds that the Protectionist Association of Victoria seemed to recognise that principle frankly. . Sir Frederick Young, the VicePrtsident of the Royal Colonial Institute, in a letter published in the Times, expressed disappointment at the Duke of Devonshire’s speech. He says the Motherland and the colonies should follow a mutually patriotic policy, not bargaining in a huckstering spirit.