THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2070, 3 May 1907, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Press Associ a t ion.—Copyr iglit. A ROYAL DINNER. LONDON, May 1. At the dinner to the colonial Premiers and statesmen at Buckingham ■Palaco on the Bth inst. ladies will not be included, as the Queen and Princess Victoria will be absent, -visiting Athens. PRESS SUPPORT FOR MR. DEAKIN, LONDON, May 1. The Times says Mr. Deakin’s statement was a forcible and comprehensive political event. The sentimental side of the question for the moment was lost. The most important point was that it was emphatically the duty of a Government setting such a store on sentimental ties to do nothing to wrench the strong sentiment of the Empire on this issue. The Morning Post says the debate must extract from the Government an official version of their case against preference. It would thereafter he the duty of Unionists to obtain the necessary mandate from the electorates. The Daily Mail says the Govern-

ment s treatment or preference was : based on the principle of a verdict first and trade afterwards. Tlie irony of it is that after denying the reality of the colonial offer, they were doomed to hear statesmen reiterating it. The Daily News hopes Mr. Deakin will carry away a message that Engp'.nd would be glad to give the colonics free trade, free navy, common citizenship, and the "cheapest money, hut would not tax food or restrict industry. The Standard relies on the colonial statesmen to educate and influence the Motherland to even up the dis-

tistrous decision of the electois m January, 1906. Merely one-half of the nation is prepared to accompany them the whole road. The Tribune congratulates Mr Deakin on the thoroughness and frankness of his statement, and says the. people of the Motherland wish the colonials to speak out and their own statesmen to answer. There was no playing with Tintara wine and pippins (a reference to Mr. Lloyd George’s sarcastic remark ol l'cbruary 22nd) with Mr. Deakin’s speech, hut on the merits of the question freetraders’ opinion is against a reversal of policy, which is strengthened by Mr. Deakin’s healthy and businesslike frankness. - PREFERENTIAL TRADE. Received May 1, 5.45 p.m. LONDON, May 1. At the Premier’s Conference Mr. Deakin concluding his speech on the preference question emphasised the action of Canada in negotiating for a reciprocal tariff with Germany. Sir J. G. Ward in an able speech impressed the conference. He stated that New Zealand’s attachment to the Empire naturally induced colonists to desire to give the Motherland preference,, asking reciprocity in return. He regretted that the question, which ought to be above party had become involved in party contests He declared there was a distinct essential difference between preference and the ' greater and more complex question of protection. The latter drew a ring fence of duty round any specified article involving an icrease of price. The effect of preference was not to raise the juice of imported jn-oducts, but' to enable colonial i products to undersell the foreign,thus obtaining a market. He believed the ' competition between the colonies was quite sufficient to prevent prices ol . their products equalling those of forcign competitors. j Dr. Jameson and Ml*. Moore. , strongly suporpted preference. I Mr. Asquith ‘rejffies to-morrow. I Received May 2, 9.44 p.m. | Mr. Deakin stated that the gross , totals of Australian trade were satisfactory, but analysed as to proportional development with Britain and | other nations argue little appreliensin of any effective retaliation from any foreign country. Germany and the United States had too much at stake to resent preference by hostile ' moasures, and they also had no right |to bo resentful. Britain’s jmrehasj ing power was an enormous asset and ' ought- to be used unitedly in dealing j with the Australian tariff. He ex- ! jffained its opportunities for prefer- ! ence, showing that a third of the j imports were duty free, and that on more than half of them from foreign countries there was a 10 per cent, duty. Then, besides encouraging local production it would lead to quite a large diversion being made to British traders, while the 15 per cent section could also be operated upon. The great object in transferring Australian purchases from foreign countries to Britain could be solved by increasing duties against foreign countries, and the imports would therefore give ample opportunities for meeting concession with concession. Received May* 2, 10.14 p.m. LONDON, May 2. Mr. Deakin said he considered that since federation the Commonwealth Parliament had been-so occupied wit) absorbing business that if was only

now becoming free to deal construe tively with the fiscal system. Tbit work would be underaken in this year’s session, wren the revision of all duties would be attempted. They were in an ex ceptionally favorable position to con sider a preference proposal. This might range from the free' gift lik< South Africa and Canada, to large; concessions which wocld necessitatreciprocal concessions on the Horn; market. The tariff revision would afford an opportunity of reconsider ing preference to goods conveyed ir British ships and manned with whit* labor which passed in 1906 withouf full deliberation. That preference was only an instalment and but fo' the Now Zealand treaty might probably not have been submitted- thai session. lleferring to the Colonial office’s

serious objections Mr. Dcakin said tlie Government had to choose between the loss of the bill and its acceptance with disabilities. He was not yet satisfied that the treaty obligaions really interposed the impedi ment which the Colonial office suggested. Australia had concluded an arrangement with South Africa. It was especially appropriate that tin: country probably concludes similar treaties with Canada and Now Zealand, and was also prepared, if Britain were disposed to negotiate, tc consider preference, specially adapted to the mutual advantage of the Motherland and Australia’s trade. The last elections in Australia exhibited a distinct advance in public opinion in favor of preference. Any adequate reciprocity from Britain would bo received with great favor in Australia where there were enormous possibilities for local production a? yet but partly utilised. Mr. Deakifi emphasised the great advantages which would accrue from the development under joint action of means of communication by ships and cables. “We ought,” he said, “to unite in diminishing the distance between us by the greatest possible improvement

in the quickness and cheapness of interchange. I hope the day will soon come when a committee of experts appointed to review Imperial trade will take every step to increase it between constituent parts of the Empire. Preference would begin as a business operation and would assist to build up the Empire commercially industrially and prodcctively, keeping the British race within their own vast territories. Received May 3, 10.21 p.m. “There should be preference in po pulation, trade and channels of trade.

Every form of co-operation hetweei tlie colonies and the motlicrland ongh to lie sought for and utilised, thongl advances in this direction must lx cautious and more or loss experimental. Their great field is open. Oui safety and future prospects are based on unity of purpose and action oh-

tained with the concuvrences of a!! the communities composing the Em pirc. Britain’s trade, which Australia was able to supply, wholly or in part, 'amounted to £213,000,000. Australia at present supplied £10,000,000, other British possessions £40,000.000 and foreign countries £160,000,000.” Mr. Donkin correcting the precis denied using the term “bring foreign nations to their knees.” Received May 3, 10.41 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward understood that although New Zealand conceded preference to certain British goods in 1903, competition between British merchants prevented any increase in prices to the consumer, though they were able to undersell the foreigner. If an English politician he would advocate cheap food for the masses and if he thought preference upon Colonial products would increase the price

Df food lio would not support it. Ho strongly believed that competition vould ensure fair value and keep lown prices. He directed attention ;o llie large decrease in British trade vitli the colonies, quoting the Board if Trade returns to show that from bo-1 to 1906 the British trade with Australia and New Zealand declined IGIO.OOO compared with 1899 to 1901 'his was suggestive of an inroad b.areign countries making a capture f the British trade and necessitated msideration from the British authoities and merchants as to whether le loss was clue to causes curable by tiy practical method., The presence

of three British Ministers induced 'him to emphasise the fact that Australia and New Zealand though yet in their infancy, with a population of only five millions, were the third largest purchasers of British products, only India and Germany exceeding them. India’s population was 230,000,000 and Germany’s 60,000,000. He believed that while the limit of trade between Britain and the ContincMital countries bad been already almost reached, trade with Australia and New Zealand would be an everexpanding one. It was difficult to Conn any conception even of what the next twenty-five years would do in the way of development of those

countries. Jt was envious teeming millions inhabiting Germany and other highly-productive Continental countries must increase their manufacturing industries for the over-increasing population. British statesmen and people ought to carefully consider also the extraordinary fact that Australia was only behind Germany in purchasing ability and already purchased one half as mucli as India purchased. Such a practisal object lesson ought to he studied. Uo supported preference for business and Imperial reasons. The business required con- . sideration of Britain and the colonies. The New Zealand preference was given entirely on a matter of sentiment, kinship and attachment to the Empire. As 90 per cent of New Zealanders were British it was not unnatural that they should display this splendid feeling of sentiment. Without undervaluing that force, as a plain business man he was unable to shut his eyes to the iact that sentiment alone, although a great bond of union, was insufficient to build up and solidify a great Empire. He believed a powerful. introduction of self-interest in the* peoples of the different parts of the Empire would make tlxe sentimental tie now existing much stronger. Rightly regarded, preference would prove advantageous to both the jMotheiland and the colonies. He did not attempt to disguise the luct that New Zealand wanted it to bo as advantageous as they could have it; buff the colonies were not so selfish or stupid as to suppose that England would reciprocate to her substantial The Commonwealth export and import trade of £110,000,000 compared very favorably per head with the United Kingdom’s, and New Zealand’s trade was between thirty and forty millions. If the colonies still in their infancy do a trade of about £160,000,000, what might be expected from them under favorable conditions and under tbe stimulating influence of preference. It would be to England s advantage even if it necessitated some preliminary sacrifice of foreign trade, because it would be replaced by at least an equal amount of increased trade with the colonies. Britain ought to imitate foreign countries by establishing British Consulates or trade correspondents in the British colonies. Sir Joseph paid a high compliment to the Governors who represented the diplomacy and policy of Britain, constituting a link between the old and the newer countries ; but it was derogatory to the dignity of their position to he utilised as commercial avenues. Almost every foreign country has consuls in Australasia. It would be similarly advantageous if British Consuls or something akin were established in each town where British merchants could obtain full and detailed infor-

illation oi any uuuuuetuidi Mr. Lloyd George interjected thata number of such appointment's had already been made. Sir Joseph said he wanted to see vitality in British countries far from the great British centre, so that, our people might not be behind their competitors iu any respect. He impressed on the Conference, and especially the British statesmen, the imperative necessity of the colonies and the Motherland being brought closer together. He had a mortal hatred of toll-bars. He had only seen one during a decade—while driving in the London Crystal Palace recently. A greater one stood on the highway nf finmniprfifl hp.t.wppn urirl

her dependencies. He referred to the Suez Canal. Disraeli’s acquisition of a substantial interest in the canal was a bold stro'ke of genius. It was worthy of consideration whether it would not pay the British Empire and France as the controlling Powers if they agreed to pay a dividend to shareholders so that ships sailing under the British and French flags might pass through free of charges, or at nominal charges. Colonial producers would then be enabled to send perishable products in tramp steamers through the Canal instead of by Cape Horn or other routes. This would save time, besides proving advantageous to the products exported. It also improved the facilities, and was certain to lead to increased trade. 'New Zealand would be propared to assist to provide the sum required. He urged that Britain should join Australia, Canada, and New Zealand in an improved steam mail sorvice between them. He had nothing to say against existing services, but he had his eye specially on a service across the Atlantic and Pacific via Vancouver. He was quite satisfied that if JMr. Deakin and Sir Wilfrid Lawson were willing to suppoit a large suitable- class of steam- . ers, there would be no great difficulty in shortening by a day’s time . the journey between Australia, New Zea= land and London, even bringing New Zealand within 20 days of London. This would strengthen the Imperial commercial, and domestic ties. New Zealand had already entered into a reciprocal treaty with South Africa extended the existing tariff, to Canada, and was also willing to enter into a reciprocal treaty with Canadq. Their extension of preference to Britain also showed that they favored preferential trade within the Empire. ■He wished to see Britain respond When all her colonies had preferential tariffs Britain could say to Germany, America, or any other pro-

tected country that Britain and her oversea dominions were prepared to consider a reciprocal treaty, with highly protected nations on certain articles of mutual advantage. If the Motherland combined and the children combined they would bo able to prevent colonial products being subjected to high and often prohibitive duties by foreign countries. He emphasised that foreign countries strenuously endeavored to secure our trade by means of subventions to steamers and the cheapening of railway facilities. He admired the way some foreign competitors worked to obtain commercial extension; but as a matter of self-protection and with tho o).iect of preventing a drift- which might eventually lead to disintegrate'1 ’ ho ur K ed in the interest of gieat national development that they should have mutual trade arrange New tn-oughout the Empire. 57. /eala,ld been conwT US A^tralia 0Cil) T« •nr** i tari®, SS l’ossdde to bring the two peoples elos<U, 111 touc]l "'th a view to mutual

advantage. Ho felt sure the Now Zealand Parliament would heartily support him. Since the commercial policy of every great continental na--10,1 " ils necessarily directed to the ‘Protection of its interests and against the interests ol Britain’s over sea kith and kin, that warranted tho colonies appealing to Britain to join in accomplishing what ho honestly believed would vitalize and add to the strength and greatness of the Umpire.