THE COLONIES AND PREFERENCE

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43090, 9 May 1907, Page 4

THE COLONIES AND PREFERENCE

Professor Howings, secretary •< of the Tariff Commission, speaking at the Chelsea Conservative Club* {recently.' on “Tthie Importance of the Colonial Conference,” said it was beyond all doubt that tbel British Governfent, in its present attitude on the subject of colonial preference, was in direct conflict with the expressed views of all hhie self-governing cblonies. It was impossible to acquiesce in the view which apparently the British Government maintained, that they had any mandate from the people of England to pursue such an unreasonable and disastrous 'Course ias to meet the colonies in a negative manner. We had to go to Australia to' obtan particulars of The preliminary Navigation ■ Conference, which was scarcely less important. Mr Deakin. had Circulated a memorandum drawn up by the Customs department of the Commonwealth on the objects of this preliminary conference. Ais special subjects for consideration by the Conference, the Australian Commissioner suggested that, among others, the question of preference to British shipowners and compensation to British seamen should be included. It was scarcely possible to exaggerate the importance of this Conference on the navigation policy of the British Empire. Not only Australia and New Zealand, but every part of the Empire, was interested in the subject. Yet Canada did not appear to have been invited to take part in this preliminary discussion. which must clearly affect to a considerable 'extent the views taken on the subject under consideration at

the larger Conference. It was the business of all who- were interested in the consolidation of the Empire. to> extract from 'Ministers am explanation of their attitude on these points. It WaS thie duty of the/ Government to place at the disposal of the British public/ all possible information,, they had' at their comm and, to instruct the people on the great issues involved, and, so far, the Government had done nothing at all to draw public attention to these subjects. It was impossible for the Government if they had any regard for the interests of the Empire, to. assume the unseasonable attitude indicated by Mir Winston Churchill in the fiscal debate. He hoped that the Government

would reconsider its attitude on the subject of preference, and go to the Conference prepared to meet the offers ’ of thle colonies with some reciprocal Concession. It was impossible to suppose that the Government as a whole regarded the imposition of small duties in an academic manner. They were proposing to create a, national army; they were pledged to other schemes of policy, not one of which could be carried -without a large increase in the revenue of the country. If they desired these objects to which they were pledged, they must desire; also, thel means of fulfilling

those pledge®, and the means could ' not be obtained except by imposing fresh revenue duties, which Would also provide. the basis for preference to the colonies.