PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 191, 16 September 1909, Page 2

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

WIU'HI.V THE EMPIRE. DISCUSSION AT THE IMPERIAL COMMERCIAL CONGRESS. MESSAGE MOM MU. CHAMBERLAIN. THE GREATEST QUESTION OF THE lIOUH. Dy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Sydney, September 15. The Congress decided to take the question of preferential trade as the first business, limiting the speeches, after the mover and seconder, to fifteen minutes, with the object of closing the debate tomorrow night. An animated discussion is proceeding upon.a series of resolutions submitted by the London Chamber of Commerce, re-affirming the resolutions of the previous Congress in favor of piTfcrenti.il treatment on a reciprocal basis within the Empire and the urging of the Governments of the Empire to treat Lho matter as of present practical importance and that the organisations repieeented at the Congress pledge themselves to press their respective Governments to take action at the next Imperial Conference to give effect U> this principle. Received September 15, 0.20 p.m. Sydney, September 15. A cable was received expressing the King's thanks to the Congress for its address.

An invitation was received for the delegates to visit New Zealand. Mr. Davics (London), in moving the preferential trade resolution; snidthis i was the llrst occasion upon which the London Chamber bud formally given its official assent to such a resolution. Canada had offered to treat the Mother Country even more generously than »he was doing at present, if she could offer a quid pro quo; but the trouble was that as their fiscal system stood at present they had nothing to offer. They were in the same position with regard to nil the other nations. They bad nothing to light with, and before they could consider such a proposal as comes from Canada they must alter the fiscal system. OPINION CHANGING IN BRITAIN. If they looked at the results of the various elections, they could not disguise | the fact that public opinion in K'lgl.ind, no matter what might be said to the contrary, was rising by leaps and bounds in favor of an alteration of the system. He quoted from a letter he had rccened from Mr. Joynson Hicks, M.P., in which the latter tktid: "The Government have a vast majority and it will be some time iielurc our party regains office; but when it docs. 1 am convinced the first thing it should do would be to summon a round table conference with a view to entcrim; into a commercial partnership with the I sister slates beyond the seas."

A LESSON' FKOM AMERICA. Mr. Davis 'continued that their great object should be tu become like thilt glorious country the L'niti-J Slates 1 , selfsupporting. "We should seek," he said, "to obtain our goods from our own kitli mid kin. It is for this reason that the London Chamber has coiue to the conclusion that protection and reciprocation is necessary between all the peoples living under the Jiritish Hag. Britain mus't protect Hie commerce ot the Umpire for the people of the Empire." Mil. CHAMBERLAIN'S MESSAGE. Prolonged cheering greeted the mention of the name of Mr .Joseph Chamberlain, and Mr. Davios read a letter from Mr. Chamberlain to the Congress, in which he slated: " 1 have no doubt you will Had Australians ready 'to listen favorably to what you have to toll them. 1 wish very much I were utill able to take an active part in the promotion of what 1 believe to be the greatest movement in our own interest which I have seen for fifty years. 1 do not doubt that that •policy will win at next election."

THE MOVEMENT JX CANADA. Received September 13, N. 45 p.m. Sydne,*, September 15.

Mr. Coekshutt (Toronto) seconded the motion. He outlined the growth of t:ie preferential movement m Canada. Xevei in the history of the world was there amalgamated under one govarwicut so many states and so much wealth as were found to-day under the British (lag. The cunsolidatffln of the Empire was the greatest question of modern times. Should they pass it down that it was beyond the wit of man or his genius to devise ways and means by which it could be done? 11». thought not. Tiiey must work for it, live for it, and strive for it. Xu one in the Congress dared to say that the position of Britain was us far in advance af America and (iermany as it was 23 years ago. Britain was purchasing more than she was svlling. She was

ON THE WRONG TRACK. It was the exports of a country that must show in the final analysis—thnt which was in the pocket at the end of the year. Let them within the Kmjiire give a little better discount to their brethren in. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or Britain than was given to America, Germauy, or Russia. Since Inst Congress, Canada had negotiated two foreign trade treaties', if not more —one with France and one with Japan—in which she was giving more advantage to those two nations than she was giving to her sister states. Would anyone tell him that it was proper to negotiate a treaty with one's most dangerous commercial rival than with one's own people? Would anyone say they could make treaties' with all the foreign nations, hut not amongst their own family? Delay was dangorous. Now was the time to STRUCK THE BLOW.

The whole of th e colonies and the mother country seemed to be ready for it. Why ask the United States or Germany what they thought of it? Follow what they did, and what they thought was the best for themselves in the matter of trade. Britons must have a regard for their own citizens first, and retain for the benefit of their own race and Hag and empire that grand heritage with which Providence had blessed them.

AN AMENDMENT.'

Received September 15, 10.20 p.in. Sydney, September 15. Mr. Cormack (Edinburgh) moved an amendment for the appointment of commissioiurs to inquire into the question as it affected the different parts of the Empire, they who were present and the commissioners to afterwards confer and report jointly, with a view of enabling the governments of Britain and till) colonies and dependencies' to lake legislative actioiv to give effect to the resolution. Although Britain was the richest country she was una Dli v., provide employment for a considerable pro]K>rlion of her industrial population. The British were sending abroad wages that the people at home should be receiving. They were spending for the support of the poor nearly as much as Ihry were spending for the support of the navy. FHOM THE FREE-TRADERS' STANDPOINT.

i\lr. lloyse (Manchester) said he represented a Chamber that was free trade from conviction. Un economic lines free-trade had been pursued for many years with conspicuous success. Tile old country was dependent on other countries for food supplies and raw material. Anything which tended to increase prices of what was wnnlea mndo the old country less able to compete in ! the markets of the world, lie hoped the Congress would pause before they passed the resolution, which was a fixed and definite one to adopt. Reciprocal trade in the Empire and trade with India were very valuable, and amounted to something like 40 millions' (sici. Surely they would not endanger that? 'Personally ho would have preferred not to have seen COLONIAL DUTIES,

: " but each portion of the Empire had to : ' work out its destinies ns it thought best. Besides with India, trade with other countries meant hundreds of millions. What might be good for Cnnada and Australia might not lie good for the [ mother country. Had it been said, "We ' will join with the Empire in alw.lute ; free-trade," it would have been it noble ' sentiment. Mr. Dixon (SlielViehl) believed the resolution would give more uor* tor the I working-classes.

NEW ZEALAND AND I'HEI-KIMONCK.I Mr. Marriner (Chrislehuivli. \W Zealand) rend statistics sliowia.r the dominion's trade and the value of the preference she bail given England. What suited England would not always suit her dependencies). The great js sll( , „ t stake was whether Britain and the colonies were to be welded into a eoinpiiet body, or the colonics to drift apart mid | go their several ways, making their own

| commercial treaties with foreign powers. The time for preferential treatment was [ripe, and the chance should not be lot slip. I

A WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING. I Mr, Rogers (Sydney) .ngutytdjntt

nut Lai trade as a wolf in sheep's clothing. The binding influence in the Empire must be free-trade, under which the dumping 0 f foreign article! could b* deult with.

Mr. Mcßobert (Upper India) Opposed the resolution. Foreign countries were India's beat customers. Sir. Wincheombe (Sydney) laid the argument for the proposed change had hot proved the necessity for the Kmp'ie to protect itself against the outside world to buy from it. It was a onesided arrangement and one they co.ud hardly expect. If they sank down to the level of producing only what they could eat, drink and wear, it would reduce the British Umpire to a lower portion in the family of nations than it occupied to-day.