FISCAL QUESTION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1796, 29 June 1906, Page 2

FISCAL QUESTION

FREETRADERS' APPEAR.

By telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyright

Melbourne, Juno 28 Referring to tho Oobden Club’s manifesto, Mr Deakin said: “Tho fact that this appeal emanated from the Oobden Club is qui e sufficient to discount all its political significance, ft is merely a dovide of that' partisan club to conorid the steady diminution of its influence. While we Bhould give the utmost consideration to any genuine expe3sicn of opinion from tbe British people, or any considerable seotion of them, we are not called upon to accept it at its face value.”

Mr D oo kin, continuing, Baid tho appoal was based upon a false and misleading assumption ‘that the preferential trade that we d sire is to be established at the cost of the peop’e of the Mother Country. Oa the oontrary. we have a'w.ys maintained that reciprocal concessions would mean mutual profit and make for the wellbeing cf tbo countries. Mr Watson, leader of tho Labor patty, said : “ f - seems to mo to be la'her beat-, ing the air. It must depend upon the decision of Britain, anl without any desire to influence the people there, J ihink it is undoubtedly a f iat that the ptople of Australia will be glad to joia in an arrangement. Anyway, I don’t think the manifesto of the Cobdon Club will afLct the desire of Australia for prcfererca.”