BRITISH WORKERS AND PREFERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8853, 2 July 1907, Page 2

BRITISH WORKERS AND PREFERENCE.

A Rew to the Premiere. Press Aooiation—Copyright. London; July 1; Twehty-tvf members of the House of Commons hanging to the Trade Union group havepsued a manifesto headed “ The Coloifl Conference and Preferential Trade,? declaring it time that the British wofing man protested against the absuritfies of some of the Colonial Premiers. 7 Although New Zealand’s white popaation only equalled that of Birmmghak district and Australia’s half that of Lorjon, their Premiers assumed the right to tjht with Britain with a population of fork millions as nation with nation, Usingthr/its if we refused their demand. Yet Gaihda, which has made most advifijc? to national importance; 1 beihg represnfed by a statesman, disassociated hersaf: from these demands. New ZBilkin' flelilahded preference for her ppdueb and manufactures, not foodsjhffs *r raw materials only, though Rowing perfectly well this cannot lb given unless we alter our jhole fecal -system and tax all foreign jnports. Even a liberal estimate of the klue of colonial preference is unable to sow. the increase of our present trade s>ith the colonies to be beyond 10 to 15 ]er cent lifcoting about a quarter of 1 per ent of the total British trade. In return j hr this magnificent result—security that bat then will he one-quarter per cent fjwer unemployed—the cost of every recessary irtielo consumed by the British Workman vill be increased. The liianihsto ridicules the Premiers who supported the foolish proposition that a small rise if the price of wheat would not .affect the price of bread, and quotes approvingly Professor Marshall’s declaration tint freetrado was never more essential to Britain’s prosperity than now. The nanifesto snceringly remarks “Needless tosay one of the chief objects of the Jksmiers is the welfare of the Britisl workmen. Their anxiety is only equalkd by that of the tariff reforming capifciist at Homo who never speaks and nevorthinks of his share of the plunder. Tostirg the disinterestedness of the colonijs by a concrete instance the manifisto refers to Mr Deakin’s ingenious proposal to raise a common fuild for Imperial, but chiefly Colonial, purposes to wiich Britain would subsidise 44 millions and the colonies a few hundred lljousands. The manifesto states that tie British workmen do not think they ae called on to contribute to the maintdiauce of their children beyond the sea td this tune, nor are they to be entrapped b| those Who exploit Imperial sentiment ixi the interest of tariff reform at their expense. Partisan CommentLondon, July 1. The Times condemns the utterly parocliial point of view displayed by what/it terms the amazing manifesto,and its entire failure to realise the sljiudpoiut of the working classes in other parts of the Empire and its cheap sneers against the bona tides |of the colonies and their spok(Wan. It adds that the Premiers will probably realise that the siguaiories .to the manifesto represent 1 very small fraction of their county.