BRITAIN'S PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1917, Page 5

BRITAIN'S PREFERENTIAL TARIFF.

JL BLOW TO GERMAN* TRADE. THE EMPIRE WAS THE BEST CUSTOMER. Received £eh. 18, 6a p.m. Berne, Feb. 17. "Tflie Vorwaerts, commenting on the announcement of Lord Balfour of Burleigh's Commission proposing a system of preferential tariS* for tie British Empire, says that this does not mean that free trade is dead, but it means that ft procession is forming which will accompany it to the grave. It also means thai Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Hew Zealand, which have been meltfed by the flamnig fire of. the world war Into closer unity wish the Mother Country, win eschange the present loose political connection for that of absolute onion. Tie only consolation is that thousands of obstacles are being piled in the path which the Empire-builders, Messrs XJoyd George and Balfour, hope to follow. Preferential duties to the British Dominions will hit Germany's export trade. The' Vorwaerts concludes: "The Britfßh world-Empire was our best customer.'?

£N ATKTSIAN REPORT— ■. j&EMY ATTACK PROCEEDING. & RK.Z. Cable Association and Renter. Receared Feb. 18, 115 pan. -.-■ ,*■ . London, Feb. 18. Vienna* "official reports state that Binee the morning the enemy attacked Mrfttou «Mt of (ffifertian and nortbjttst <rf BafCß Hub* «ad .tiutf fighting is