IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 3 June 1907, Page 2

IMPERIAL AFFAIRS.

♦ SPEECH BV LOUD MILNER. THE CON'SKKVATIVJJS' COLONIAL POLICY. ADVANTAGES OF PREFERENCE. Received 2nd, 4.33 p.m. London, June 1. Lord Milncr, speaking at a Unionist demonstration at Vork, acknowledged 81r E. liroy's and Mr John Hurley's wise ■ firmness in Egypt and India, but Radical' fanatics had diverted their full force to South Africa, which was the lightning conductor of their mischievous activities, Jle quoted Mr Smuts, showing tbo Transvaal's grave and material depression. Lord Miluer declared the alarming decline was due to reckless electoral agitation, Jlrituin destroying confidence. While he recogused the sincerity of Mr Botha's speeches, he contended that we had transferred the Transvaal to a purely racial party, and laid the foundations of Dutch ascendancy from Capetown ti the Limpopo. The Union, nt any rate, was temporarily the under dog. Commenting on the Colonial Confer-

ence, he said preference, must now be argued as a living principle. It would give an immense impetus to exports to the colonies, whose inhabitants, per head, were vastly onr best customers.

Preference, by eneouragiug colonial production and population, would multiply their customers. Our emigration should be directed to British lands, instead of running waste all over the world, and thus upbuild the Empire and our main power, the need for defence and unity.