The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1903. PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 131, 4 June 1903, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1903. PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS.

A telegram, which appeired in our yesterday's i'sue, seated that Mr Seddon claimed that the views expressed by him at Kimberley, South Africa, whan on h'S way to London to take • pait in the Coronation celebrations, expressed the miLd of the cabinet on this most mcmen'ius question. It h-.ppacs thit a South African piper, by a rte nt 1 mail, contains whit is called the "Mayor's Minute," or annual report r issued by the Mayor of Kimborl-y (Mr William H, Foley), fjr the year 1902. It gives a very fu'l report of Mr. Siddon's recep'ion in May last year, ar.d Mr Seddon's remarks on the subject of preferentiil trade between Great Britain and the colonies, when replyiog to i the addresses presented to him. In view of tie telegram referred to, thrge remarks will be read with interest. Mr Seddon a id that miction had, been made in the address:s presented of commercial relations between the colonies and the Mo*her Oouotry. He did not claim to be the fist statesman who had advocated preferential tariffs. Tint credit belonged to a s'atesmin who was his leader, and who wfti at one time Governor of the Capo—the late Sir George Grey. They wou'd remember that he w?s an ardent Imperialist, and that he did all he could to promote Imperial federation, and to strengthen th 6 Empire from within. The idei hud grown, and it wou'.d appear that there was now soma prospect of its being realised. In asking that the colonies sho iIJ give their trade t > the Mother Country by prefersitial tarifls, or by rebate of customs du'ie?, he did not care how it was done, but what he did insist upon was thit they shculd indirectly assist 1 he Mother Oouotry to bear thore heavy burden< which had been largely increased by the war in South Africa. By so doing they would not be hurting the feelings of other nation?, b.ciuse in their co'ooiee they had erected barriers which absolutely prevents d British manufactured goods being sent there. Not only that, but to obtain the trade of tha British colonies they largely subsidised their steamers to bring tbeir goodj to those colonies; and if, therefore, we simply said that goods manufac'ured in Britain and carried in British slrps sh uld bave a preference in Brit sh colonies, we should'be within our constitutional right, ii e knew that it would be a reversal of the policy of tha Mother Country, and that in the Mother Ccuntiy they were slow to miv, but aDy well-wisher of the Empire must see thit Great Britain was losing ground ir trade, and lo say that territory which had c.-sfc us blood and treasure should be thrown opan to othernatiocs to reap: the same advantage as Britishers wijs simply nonsensical. (Loud <h:ers). By the coastal laws of Annrici no British ship could trade along the coast or take passengers or goods from port to port. It was the same with Germany and her colonies, the same with France, and only recently Russia had fol'owed their example by declarir g thit her costal liws applied to he> co'onies. With that beLre them, l.e said that he was a traitor to the Em pire who would allow existing conditions to go on. (Loud oheers;. Th?y must do what was right and just. . The commercial war of the fu ure woulJ be a greater darger for the Empire than, ever the war in South Africa h d been. It was commerce that had made our nation mighty, and what did wes e? Why, only the other day s.vtral lines o ! British steamers had pissed over to a combine or trust organised in America and dominated by Americans. Did not this prove that something must be done? Therefore, in bringing this subject forward, be was proud that the Kimherl y Chamber of Commerce wat alive to the danger that threatened cur Empire, and that in far-off Kimborley they said, *'• Go or, Mr Stddon." (Lo i cheers)." This was twelve month ago, and although the official sta'emen made by Mr Onamberlain hag, back d up as it his been by Mr Balfiur, caus c something of asensatior, thinking men have be n moie or letz prepared fji somethirg of the sort. Sir Giffen, the eminent financial authority, in a letter published in the Times, siyß " that while not belityiog in tha

possibility of binding the Empire to system fmu ual tad') profit etc?, ha f lfc that tho whole force of the Empire must be used, if necessary, to vind cats Oanaca's right to concede preference to the Motherland without foreign reprisals," He refers to Germany's aciion as an imp rtinance. Sir Robert a revision of our methods and sys'em of comaaercul arrangements with foreign countries and treating the Empire as a unit, instead of negotiating fo - its separate pirts. He says it is advisable to establish a commeiciiil council to aesht the Foreign Oflic 3 , tin ouncil to coinp: i is representatives of the autonomous colonics, India, and other parts of the Empire. Sueh a ciuncil would discuss preferential questions. This seem? a s.'nsiblsand practical ide>, which we' hip 9 to Eee adopted. I