PROTECTION V. FREETRADE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 39, 16 February 1916, Page 4

PROTECTION V. FREETRADE.

MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

V GEEAT MEETING

(Reed. 5.5 a.m.) LONDON, February 15

Six hundred out of 1,800 members attended the Manchester Chamber of Commerce annual meeting; hitherto the attendances have averaged only 100. The interest was aroused by the directors' memo, to the Annual Report, declaring that the Chamber would require unmistakeable .proof before sacrificing its free trade policy, which had been productive of such beneficial results. The meeting, by a large majority, referred the memorandum back' for consideration, whereupon the directors decided to take a ballot. Mr. Barclay, president, accused protectionists of taking an unfair advantage of war-time. He depreciated reprisals, which, after the war, wofeltL. divide Europe into two hostile caSnS hulifting up huge armaments against the day when a commercial war would again give place to a military conflict. Other resolutions were postponed pending the ballot.