FISCAL CONTROVERSY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 230, 3 October 1904, Page 3

FISCAL CONTROVERSY.

THE FEDERAL LABOUR LEADER'S OPINION. P AUSTRALIA AND PREFERENCE.! SYDNEY, Oct. 1. Interviewed with reference to the Burns and Bell cables, Mr Watson said :—"There is no desire on the part of the Australia an workers that the British people should subject themselves to any disabilities on our behalf. In the Australian view pre- * fenentdal trade is essential from an Empire standpoint, but it is a matter for the people of Great Britain to decide whether or not it will be in their interests. It has been suggested that taxation in Great Britain might 'be regulated so that preferential trade should involve no greater sacrifice on the part of the British proletariat than is at present exacted, and if that is so I cannot see why it should not be adopted. Loyalty to the Motherland goes without sayfing, but to us it seems advisable to have a strong-: er bond in the shape of rcciproci-, ty In trade relations. And, admitting the wisdom of leaving the ultimate, decision in the hands of the British i people, I deem it advisable to Ijave j no room for misapprehension as to' the opinions of the Australian people. I emphatically'. declare they are in favour of preferential trade." i Spooking at the Chamber of Manufacturers' dinner, the-. Minister for Home Affairs said it" was thought that last elections had settled the fiscal question, but Australia was) threatened with nationalisation ol her industries. It represented too grfeat a question to be laid aside, and there must be a division of parties thereon. ' Mr Watson said there was an idea that the Labour Party was opposed to manufacturers and employers, but that was not s O . He wished the manufacturers every success. Labour was opposed to monopoly. As to the gladiatorial contest the Minister had referred to, he believed the Federal Government was sicklied over with the pallid hue of death, and he i- promised to give them a decent burial. As to the cause of the rc-open-iugi of the tariff question, there was a number of industries suffering intense injury on account thereof. In regard .to preference he declared the issue was put clearly • before the people of Australia,'and their verdict was certainly in favour of entering into an arrangement with the Motherj Country. The Sympathy of the community must go out to the captains j of industry by whom he was sur- : rounded that night. j