ECONOMIC DEFENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 December 1917, Page 3

ECONOMIC DEFENCE.

REFERENCE IN THE EMPIRE. PRINCIPLES AFFIRMED. WELLINGTON, Nov. 28. The Hon. George Fowlds found himself in lonely minority, at the Chamber of Commerce this morning, on the question of a reciprocal and preferential tariff within the Empire, favouring neutral nations and discrimination after the war against enemy countries. The object of the remit was to bring the association's views before the Imperial Government before the international compact is drawn up.

Mr. Fowlds objrj.ct.ed to the spirit of the motion, which, he thought, would breed international hatred and difficulty, and make wars more frequent than in the past without bringing advantage to the people of the Briish Empire. Mr. J. Gow (Dunedin) said that was an extreme view. The point involved was the continuance or non-continu: ance of practices in vogue before the war. It was proposed to prevent dun? ping, export bonuses, and so on, by restricting trade with foreign countries by means of tariffs.

Mr R. L. Paterson (Napier) said that before the war the Empire was not holding her own, and if Germany had gone as she commenced, the Empire would have been a "back number. "

Mr. J. Blair (Rodney) said they should thoroughly support the spirit of the motion. Closer Imperial cohesion would make for the safety of the British race in the future.

Mr. T. Clarkson (Hastings) said that Mr. Fowld\ objection would carry more weight if they could be assured that after the war there would be the millennium. They had no evidence of that, and they should so develop their own resources as to become entirely independent of Germany His own opinion was that for many years after the war they should not allow a German in the British Empire, and so protect themselves from the mistakes of the past. Mr. J. G. Harkness (Wellington) said the ; motion was on similar lines ! to one he proposed in J9K.- All they wanted to do was to lay down a principle. He was surprised to hear what Mr. Fowlds had said. All important chambers of commerce in the United Kingdom, including the Manchester Chamber, had passed similar motions, and to say that by passing them they would engender hatred was mere "flapdoodle" and nonsense, and Mr. Fowlds knew it. For himself, he had no hatred in his composition. He did not even hate Mr. Fowlds for what he had said, but he believed in hitting back when he was struck. Mr. Fowlds said he had not been speaking in favour of Germany. He was speaking in favour of doing that which was wise and in the interests of the British Empire. The motion was agreed to.