THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 21 February 1907, Page 3

THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

GUESTS OF THE NATION,

London, February ID. ■ln the House of Commons, Mr Churchill (Under-Secretary for the Colonies) said the Colonial Premiers would be treated as guests of the nation. The Right Jlon. A Lyttciton (late cecretary for the Colonies), interviewed, said he supported the Hon. Mr Reeves- suggestion regarding (he Imperial Council, aud emphasised his own u..-patch of Apnl 20ih, HkjC The I'Oiilereiiecs should not be overwhelmv ,! v';? soi i-ui.je.-tg, invis k-m d T ry C ""' lllis * icll Miiyht f rom hi ° T ccnc! '' nyc for discussion wei-'liii l-° hmc fcr ihc inference ■l 1 1 \-"nr' " CC ' :i "k' l '' l Were COlltillU'3 arising.

STATUS OF ACCOMPAXYIXC MIXISTERS

Received 20th, !).53 p. m . c- ■ London, Fcbruarc 20 MbWr r '' l "" tr ' ,sk '' d 1i1,,t ■« -iinihtcis iiecompaiiyiui; Colonial Premiers l,e given their full statu* at tl,c '"'Penal Conference. Lord Elgin declined, believing th-U the concession would create dillicuKi,., which only the Conference could satisfactorily settle. Jlin:Vi..r« mgi.t ;,t---->eud when matters affecting t.ieir departments were being discussed.

MOTIOX J\ THE COMMOXS.

MOVEK'S .St'KKCJI i'AVOI'RXXO PREFEREX'CE

XEW ZEALAXD A\ 1) CANADA

EXCEPTED.

Received 20th, 9.53 p.m. London, February 20. Mr Hill, in moving his amendment to the Address, regretting that the King's Speech did not mention the Colonial Conference, urged that the demand for preference in the colonies arose from the colonies' domestic needs. Prefor-

ences were given because desirable in themselves, Similarly the demand here, if real, must arise from our domestic needs. Preference nuwt lie justifiable ill itself, apart .from the. question of reciprocity. Britain's taitfl, although not protective, was the highest in the world per head, spread over such necessaries as tea!

sugar, and driat fruit. He urgitl that witli every portion of I lie Empire, except Canada and perhaps New Zealand, preference w.-i,s feasible on a basis of redaction of existing duties, and no departing from free-trade. Regarding the fear Chat preference to (Jswidian wheat would raise pricei, he declared there would be no enhancement of price if the untaxed nipplv exceeded the taxed. K-YJISAV MeDOXALD'« DEDUCTIONS.

Received 20th, 11.18 p.m. >• London, February 20. Sir (_'. Dilke opposed Mr Hill's amendment, largely in the interests of India.

llr Ramsay McDonald said the colonies liad definitely adopted protection, I meaning, in Canada, Canadian work for Canadian workers, production to meet consumption. A tinular situation existed in Australia, where they were now attempting to reduce to a disappearing point the amount of foreign productions that could get over the tariff. It was a mistake to suppose that Australia was very anxious for the Motherland to take her raw materials. He quoted Victorian factory inspectors on the exports of timber and skins to show that Australia waa discoveringtbat if raw material drained out OTAiistraiia, it would be impossible to realise the policy of "Australian labour for Australian workmen." He cited the agitation, for bounties, and concluded that Australia's proposed margin of preference to the Motherland was intended to be

lie disappearing margin, while Canida's friendly offer "would be \vithlrawn upon the Home position Txnng ;t;in'd. lli' added that Britain von Id not consent to char go her fiscal

policy for a very narrow margin "f preference, because if tliey were going to protect'the Canadian wheat-growers

they must protect the British farmer. When the colonies were asked what they meant l>v Imperial preference, he said, we found they meant nothing whatever. It was merely a cry u-ed for party purposes