THE FISCAL ISSUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8144, 29 June 1906, Page 3

THE FISCAL ISSUE.

THE COB DEN CLUB'S "APPEAL." FRUITLESS RESULT ON AUSTBALIA. Mblbottbnb, June 2S. Referring to the Cobden Club's manifesto, Mr Deakin said the fact that the so-called " appeal" emanated from the Cobden Club was quite sufficient to discount all its political significance. "It is merely a device of that pirtisan club to conceal the steady Jiminution of its influence. While we should give the utmost consideration to my genuine expression of opinion fron .he British people, or any considerable section of them, we were not called on t) accept at its face value an appeal bised upon the false and misleading assumption that the preferential trade that we desire is to be established at t ! ie cost of the people of the Mother Country. On the contrary, we hive Always maintained that reciprocal con■essions would mean mutual profit and make for (he well-being of both countries."

Mr Watson, the Leader of the Labor Party, said: " The appeal seems to me to be rather beating the air, as it must depend on the decision of Britain, and, without any desire to influence the people there, I think it is undoubtedly he fact that the people of Australia rill be glad to join in an arrangement. Anyway, I do not think the manifesto jf the Cobden Club will affect the de sire of Australia.