WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1917, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

AFTER THE WAR. TRADE WlfH GERMANY. 'From Our Own Correspondent. Wellington Nov. 30. On the opening day of the annual conference of the Association of ChamJbera of Commerce the Hon. George Fowlds a lively turn to the discussion of Empire Trade by suggesting that by passing resolutions, urging the Government to exclude German goods from the Dominion for all time the conference was assisting in bringing about a state of affairs that would not make either for the welfare of the British people or for the peace of the, world. Tariffs of the kind proposed, he said, would be bound [to,create international suspicions, jealousies,and hatred, and would do a great deal more harm than good to the British Empire. It was a delicate point to raise in such an assembly, burning with patriotic enthusiasm, but Mr. Fowlds was not without support from other speakers, who protested against the implication that the Empire was unalble to hold its own in open competition with the rest of the world.

HARD AND OFTEN. But the great majority of the speakers; and apparently of the silent delegates; were strongly in favor of reaffirming the /anti-German resolutions. Mr Roydhouso insisted that the enemy 'should be hit hard and often through She tariff. If all British people had a "proper .personal practical patriotism" this would not be necessary, but this was pot the case, and thoughtless buyers must be protected against themselves. A number' of other delegates followed in » similar strain, and after Mr. Fowlds had reminded the conference that he had spoken solely in. the interests of the British pqople, desire td pilti&te" German war practices or business methods, the resolutions were reaffirmed without dissent. Ihiring the discission Mr. R. W. Dalton, the British Trade-Commissioner, who was present By--invitation, stated in rgply to a question that there was not the least ground for the assumption: that the Mother Country would not in ,future be, able to supply all the goods which formerly had /been drown from foreign countries. A# INDIGNANT MINISTER.

Though the Minister of Finance imparts no hard words into the interview' «e has gjven the newspapers this morning in reply to the criticism levelled against him by Mr. J. 'IV M. Hornsby, ft is evident that he resents very strbhglv the loose statements of the;memher for Wairarapa. It was while addressing a patriotic gathering at Masterton that Mr Hornsby chose to declare, in so many word's, that .Sir Joseph Ward had deceived Parliament jn regard. t,o the financial position of the Dominion in order to block the demand for better provision for the members of the Second Division and their dependents. It was a line of criticism for whicfli there could be no possible excuse. The Minister had put the position plai'r'v before a caucus of both parties', at which Mr. Hornßby, presumably, was present, arid every member had been given opportunity to ask any question or to make any* objection he pleased. To raise charges of deception at this stage implies a lack; of intelligence on the part of members as well ns a lack of integrity on the part of the Minister.

WELLINGTON NORTH. No furthor announcement has been tnade yet in regard to the impending Wellington North by-election, but it is understood tho representations made to Mr, Massev concerning the selection of the Government candidate have not (been without effect. It is probable, so rumor lias it now, that the Mayor will find it inconvenient to contest the s-fsat, and that a well-known professional man iii the citv will be selected in his place. Meanwhile the Labor party is putting Its electoral machinery, in order and preparing for the selection of a,candidate to represent its interest* There is soms ' nil.: of Mr. Atmore, the ex-member for S T elson, who is said to be studvinsr for the Bar, being chosen: but it is doubtful If lift would receive the support of a mnin-itv of ~th<j party even if he were d'sppwd at the present .Juncture to offer himwjf, ti*> o" the altar of a forlorn hone, . 1