FEDERAL PREMIER IN LONDON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue XXIV, 23 June 1902, Page 3

FEDERAL PREMIER IN LONDON.

MR BASTON INTERVIEWED. | PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received 22, 5.40 p.m. Londo.v, June 21. Mr Barton, intervinwfd, siid lord Hopetoun had authorised bim to give a categorical deniil tj the Times statements made on May 16'; hj, that deplorable differences had arisen between Lird Hopetoun and the Feieral Cabinet:, and that the latter hid bro'ien ! faith with him. Mr Barton char:c-' terissd the statements isßudiri and unjust aspersions upon Lord Hopa'oun. The Federal Pr;miT said hp r cognised that if tha Governor-General's position rrinaic-id unchanged, Mr Chamberlain wcu'd have great difficulty in rejecting a future occupant. He favoured preferential trade, if it were possible to overcome the surrounding difficulties, especially G rtwßv's threit of retaliation. An Imperial Z jllverein was impossible at present Mutual tiriff concessions within the Em,ie were mora prac'iol. R'girding defence, Australia's attitude won't! be considerably influenced by the cecEssi'y for strict rconorny for some yeirs. Ha favaured one final Court of Appeal for the whole Empire on the lino* fugg\strd by Mr Justice Hodges (Vic'oiia). Australia was following British precedents in collec'ing duties before the tiriff was passed. lie did ro< attach importance to the allege 1 illegal procedure.