Preferential Trade.

Manawatu Herald, 2 June 1903, Page 2

Preferential Trade.

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH. Mr Chamberlain, continuing in bis speech in the House of Commons, said that if free trade were so rigidly adhered to as to render a counter-attack upon foreigners impossible when they attack our colonies or ourselves, then the intention should be announced, so as to

enable the colonies to understand the situation. Such an announcement would put an insurmountable obstacle in the way of closer fiscal; relations with the colonies. If the hope of such relationship were abandoned the idea of establishing closer political relations might also be dismissed, and a united Empire would be beyond the bounds of possibility. If the people gave a mandate, Mr Chamberlain said, he would call a Colonial Conference. “ The'terms then offered,” he added, would depend upon what we could give the colonies It was possible ‘to make perferential arrangements benefiting both. The workers must be convinced that they would be recouped the tax on food by extra wages, social reforms and old age pensions. Such a change in the fiscal system: of the country would convince Germany of the impolicy of attacking Canada, and enable us to deferd our trade against the unjust competition of gigantic American and German trusts.” The House has adjourned for the Whitsuntide holidays. • THE BERLIN PRESS. The Berlin newspapers'had predicted that Mr Balfour would repudiate Mr Chamberlain’s utterances at the earliest opportunity. They are now profoundly impressed at finding that Mr Chamberlain was no free lance, and that Mr Balfour ansi Mr Chamberlain are alike thoroughly in earnest. The majority of the newspapers are almost ! dumbfounded, and their comments show suavity—almost meekness. The “ National Zeitung ’’ says Mr Chamberlain’s , ideas lack a firm basis. The Motherland and colonies are a family to represent a union as yet only existing politically in Mr Chamberlain’s imagination. The “ Kreuz Zeitung ” declares that a traiff war will bring Great Britain into conflict with all nonBritish countries. The agrarian organs alone are not surprised at Mr Balfour’s attitude. They declare that they consistently predicted that Great Britain would become protectonist.