THE SUEZ CANAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2074, 28 December 1907, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE SUEZ CANAL.

REFERENCE BY THE PREMIER

During the course of his speech at Taihano recently tho Premier made somo important references to theriuez Canal. He desired, ho said, to refer to a matter, the importance of which was not sufficiently realised by the people in tho Old Country, who were responsible for tho conduct of public affairs. AVo in New Zealand were all concerned in the cheap conveyance of our products from New Zealand to the old land, seeing that the value of our . perishable products exported amounted to about four million pounds per annum: From New Zealand to tlie Old Country were running' somo of the finest cargo steamers that could be built. But if in New Zealand they had a 'great toll bar right across the country demanding a tax of from os to 10s a ton, what would they say? The” would say that it was a relic of barbarism, and ask their fellow colonists to join with them ,in removing it. Yet today, ho asked, what .is the fact. J The fact- was that, on one of the greatest highways, which was controlled by shareholders in Great Britain and France, charges were made, which constituted -a sovere impost both oil passengers and cargo. Wo, in this outlying portion of the Empire, were helping the Old Land to build up the Empire’s industries, and yet tho people in tlio okl world, who controlled tho Canal, allowed a system of greed and selfishness, anil money-gralibing anil money-making, to continue to the extent of pressing upon every industry which sent produce through the Suez Canal to' an extent which, if it existed upon the land, would cause a revolution. Surely, he urged, tlio people of New Zealand hail, a right to enter their strongest protest against the system that was allowed to go on, and to ask, as he did at the Imperial Conference, that New Zealand anil Australia should have a representative upon the Suez Canal Board. Sir Joseph pointed to the fact that the Americans, after constructing the Fnnama Canal, would cut their charges down to compete with the Suez Canal, with which it would be a formidable competitor.