TRADE PREFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 2 July 1907, Page 3

TRADE PREFERENCE.

THE COLOXIKS PROPOSALS RIDICULED. JBADE UXIOX COMMONERS' MANIFESTO. Received July Ist, 10.2 a p.m. London, July 1. Twenty-two members of the House of Commons belonging to the Trade I'nion group, have issued a manifesto hcadisl "Colonial Conference and Preferential Trade," declaring it time the British working man protested agaiust the absurdities of some of the Colonial PreAlthough Xew Zealand's white population only equalled that of the Birmingham district, and Australia's half that of London, their Premiers, says the manifesto, assumed to treat with Britain, with forty millions, as nation with nation, using threats if we refuse their demand, yet Canada, which has made the moat advance in national importance, being represented by a statesman, disassociated herself from these demands. New Zealand demanded preference for her products and manufactures, not foddsttirTs or raw materials only, though knowing perfectly well that this cannot I be given unless we alter our whole fiscal ' system, and tax all foreign imports. '

Even a liberal estimate of the value of colonial preference was unable to show an increase in the present Iraile with the colonies beyond 10 to 15 per cent.. affecting about a quarter of one per cent of the total British trade In return for this magnificent result, security of one """quarter per cent, fewer unemployed, and the cost of every necessary article eonsinned by the British workman would be increased. The manifesto ridicules the Premier* who supported the foolish proposition that a small rise in the price of wheat would not affect the price of bread, and quotes approvingly Professor Marshall's 'declaration that free trade was never More essential to Britain's prosperity than now. The manifesto sneeringly remarks that it is needless to say one of the chief objects of the Premiers is the welfare of the British workman. Their anxiety is only equalled by that of the tariff- . reforming capitalist at Home, who never speaks and never thinks of his share of the plunder. Testing the disinterestedness of the co- - loniea by a concrete instance, the manifesto refers to Mr Deakin's ingenious proposal to raise a common fund for Imperial, but chiefly for Colonial, purposes, to which Britain would sulwiilisc Iff, millions, and the colonies a few hundred thousands. The manifesto states that British workmen do not think they are called on to contribute for the niain- ' tenancy of their children beyond the sea 'to this tune, nor arc they to be entrapped by those who exploit Imperial sentiment in the interest of tariff reform •t their expense. ll : COMING DEBATE IX THE COMMONS. Received Jaly 1. 11.27 p.m. Lonon, July 1. E. .1. Soareg (L.) moves an amend- , )MBt-to the Hon. A. Ly'ttelton's resolution, That the permanent unity of the Smpite will not be secured through .a. system cf preferential duties based on I protective taxation on food.