BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8746, 21 February 1907, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

Debate on the Address.

Per Press Association —Copyright. London. February 20,

Mr Hill, in. moving his amendment to the Address, previously cabled, urged that the demand for preference in the colonies arose from -the colonies’ domestic needs that preference be given because it is desirable in themselves. Similarly if the demand here is real it must arise from our domestic needs. Preference must be justifiable in itself apart from the question of reciprocity. Britain’s tariff, although not protective, was the highest in the world per head, spread over such necessaries as tea, sugar, and dried fruit. He urged that with every portion of the Empire, except Canada and perhaps New Zealand, preference was feasible on the basis of a reduction of existing duties and with no departing from free trade. Regarding the fear that preference to Canadian wheat would raise prices, he declared there would be no enhancement in price if the untaxed supply exceeded the taxed.

Sir Charles Dilke opposed MiHill’s amendment largely in the interests of India.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald said the colonies definitely adopted protection, meaning in Canada Canadian work for Canadian workers production to meet consumption, and a similar situation existed in Australia where they were now attempting to reduce to the disappearing point the amount of foreign production that could get . ver the tariff. It was a mistake to °uppose that Australia was very anxious for the Motherland to take her raw materials. He quoted Victorian factory inspectors’ reports on exports of timber and skins to show that Australia is discovering that if raw material ir drained out of Australia it will be impossible to realise the policy of Australian labour for Australian workmen. He cited tho agitation for bounties and concluded that Australia’s proposed margin of preference to the Motherland was intended to be a disappearing margin, while Canada’s friendly offer would be withdrawn upon the Home position being stated. He added that Britain would not consent to change her fiscal policy for the very narrow margin of preference, because if she was going to protect Canadian wheat-growers, she must protect the British farmer. When the colonies were asked what they meant by Imperial preference, we found they meant nothing whatever. It was merely a cry used for party purposes. In the House of Commons, Mr Churchill, in the debate on Air Hill’s amendment, declared that the Imperial Conference was the most important constitutional function, a d that it would be treated with every respect. He argued that it was impossible to give preference to the colonies without taxing bread, meat and dairy produce. The ’ Government was opposed to colonial preference politically and equally on economic grounds. Taxes on food would arouse against the colonies a dangerous and terrible antagonism on the part of the workers of tbe Motherland, Air Churchill declared that AllHill’s amendment was a marked advance on Mr Balfour’s letter to Air Chair berlain on February 14 last year, wherein he defined his position in connection with tariff reform, adding that Air Balfour was about to support'the amendment, although it emanated from the most militant section of tariff reformers.

During tho debate Air Hunt, Unionist, implored Mr Balfour to descend from the heights of philosophy and golf and explain his fiscal policy in language that ordinary persons could understand. The Liberals roared with laughter, in which Air Balfour joined. The Radicals cheered Air Churchill’s denunciations of preference. The debate was adjourned. The Preferential Policy, The Times says that Air Ramsay AlacDonald’s facts relating to foreigners outbidding the British for Australian raw materials suggest a strong argument for Imperial preference to avert the danger of Britain’s supplies of raw material being intercepted. Differential treatment may give us, in the event of an export duty being imposed on Australian materials, an important advantage in the purchase of such materials as are not directly required for the industries of Australia. House of Lords. In the House of Lords Lords Harris, Lansdowne and Ashbourne condemned the inexcusable action of Government in cabling to Johannesburg in December the Alinisterial statements attacking the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association on the eve of a general election. Lord Elgin defined the action as quite legitimate though the practice might not bo utilised frequently. By-Election. Mr E. AlcKenna, who recently joined the Cabinet,- has been reelected for North Alonmouthshire unopposed.