WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 December 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

I AFTER THE WAR. I TRADE WITH GERMANY. I I (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Nov 30, On the opening day of the annual conference of the Association ofi Chambers of Commerce the Hon. G t Fowlds gave a lively turn to the dis* cussion of Empire Trade by suggest* ing that by passing resolutions urg-« ing the Government to exclude Ger* man goods from the Dominion for all time the conference was assisting in bringing about a state of affairs that would not make either for the welfare of the British people or for the peace of the world. Tariffs of the kind pro« posed he said, would be bound to? create international suspicions, jeal* ousies and hatred, and „ would do a; great 'deal more harm than good to the British Empire. It was a delicate point to raise in such an assembly, burning with patriotic enthusiasm, but; Mr Fowlds was not without support" from other speakers who protested against the implication that the Empire was unable to hold its own irf open competition with the rest of the world. . . J HARD AND OFTEN. But the great majority of the speakers and apparently of the silent delegates were strongly in favour of reaffirming the anti-German resolutions. Mr Roydhouse insisted that the enemy should be hit hard and often through the tariff. If all British people had a "proper personal practical patroitism" this would not be neces-* sary but this was not the case and thoughtless buyers must be protected against themselves. A number of other delegates followed in a similar strain and after Mr Fowlds had reminded the conference that he had spoken solely in the interests of the British people without the slightest desire to palliate German war practices or business methods the resolutions were re-affirmed without dissent. During the discussion Mr R. W, Dalton, the British Trade Commissioner, who . was present by invitation, stated in reply to a question' there was not the least ground for the" assumption that the Mother Country would not in future be able to supply all the goods which formerly had been drawn from foreign countries.

AN INDIGNANT MINISTER Though the Minister of Finance imparts no hard words into the interview he has given to the newspapers this morning in reply to the criticism levelled against him by Mr J. T. .M. Hornsby, it is evident that he resents very strongly the loose statements of the member for Wairarapa. It was when addressing a patriotic gathering at Masterton that Mr Hornsby chosej to in so many words, that' Sir Joseph Ward had deceived Parliament in regard to the financial position of the Dominion in order to block the demand for better provision for the members of the Second Division and their dependents. It was a'~ line of criticism for which there could be no possible excuse. The Minister had put the position plainly before a caucus of both parties, at which Mr Hornsby, presumably, was present, and every member had been given an. opportunity to ask any question or to. make any objection he pleased. To raise charges of deception at this stage implies a lack of intelligence on the part of membeis as .veil as a lack of integrity on the part of the MilH ister.

WELLINGTON NORTH. No further announcement .-.ad bean made yet in regard to the impending Wellington North by-election; but it is understood the representations made to Mr Massey concerning the selection of the Government candidate have not been without effect. It is so rumour has it now, mat the Mayor will find it inconvenient to contest the seat and that a wellknown professional man in the city will be selected in his place. Meanwhile the Labour Party is putting its electoral machinery in order and preparing for the selection of a candidate to represent its interests. There is some talk of Mr Atmore, the ex-mem-ber for Nelson, who is said to be ■studying for the Bar, being chosen, but it is doubtful if he would receive the support of a majority of the Party even if he were disposed at the present juncture to offer himself up on the altar of a forlorn hope