THE RAGING LYNE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8816, 18 May 1907, Page 3

THE RAGING LYNE.

Press Association —Copyright, London, May 17. Sir William Lyne addressed a meeting of too Australasian Chamber of Commerce. Ho said he regretted to find in London those who owed all to Australia not standing forth to help Australia, fbe Premiers* Conference represented over fifteen million whites who wished to give preference. In the Conference the British Government's action had been in a negative form. It started with a view to negative everything Australia wanted. It was not entirely offensive, but a sit-still sort of “ we won’t do it” attitude. The officials gave a very good precis when Ministers spoke, and a very bad one when others spoke. Ho hoped the Blue Book, soon to be published, would show the public the efforts made by the Premiers to get Government to do something. They were met with almost offensive negatives by two members of the Conference, the first Mr Asquith who bad a case and worried for it like a brief in court, the second Mr-Churchill who was against us all the time as far as preference was concerned. One man who heljiod much both at tho Imperial and the Shipping Conference was Mr Lloyd-George who helped to take off tho rough edge of his colleagues’ refusal. The Conference hacl been ventilation of nothing more and ho hoped things would bo different before next meeting. If the present Government did not alter their attitude they would bo beaten.

A Reproof.

The Daily Chronicle says—“ Sir Vv. Lyue’s remarks were sadly lacking in restraint, even in courtesy. Mr Asquith’s address at the Conference was unquestionably trenchant, bub if Sir W. Lyne cannot answer it ho had better leave it alone. We welcome discussion, but there should be as little direct infusion of party spirit as possible.