THE FISCAL QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81894, 26 November 1906, Page 3

THE FISCAL QUESTION.

TARIFF COMMISSION'STJEFORT MR DEAKIN'S VIEWS, MELiSofBNE, November 24. Mr Deakin, Federal Premier, referring to the cabled summary of the British Tariff Commission's report, said the Commission had simply studied the British situation from the British point of view, in the interest of British, inducers, and had arrived at its conclusions probably without taking into, account the reciprocal benefits certain to accrue from tariff requirements of the kind here suggested. It was highly satisfactory to see that men of business on the other side of the world, thinking only of their own and local interests, should arrive at eonclusious which, if adopted, would be beneficial to all the great agricultural dominions, such as Australia', Canada, and New Zealand. The findings ot the Commission were certain to have great weight with thoughtful, openminded electors in the Motherland.

BELITILED BY RAMSAY MAC DONALD. MELiiOt'BXE, November 21 Mr Ramsay Mael>onald, M.P., declared the findings will have no influence, and excite no interest. A duty on colonial wheat would inevitably mean a dearer loaf, the only people beneficing being England's landlords. Great Britain would have first of all to protect her own farmers, and the latter were not going to allow the New Zealand, Australian, and Canadian farmer to cut them out of their market. So preference was required to encourage the frozen meat trade, for instance. So far as he could see, it would only increase the profits of the Australian land-uvt ner, and consequently his politi-

cal power. The Labour Party, lie was sure, was not going to authorise any such thing here to injure the parly's prospects.