PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8401, 16 April 1907, Page 5

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

TIMIDITY OF GREAT BRITAIN

Received April 15, 7.28 a.m. LONDON, April 14. At a banquet given at the Trocadero by Australasian merchants in London, 150 guests were present, including several Australian ex-Governors and others prominently connected with the colonies, and the Agents-General. Lord Jersey, formerly Governor of New South Wales, who presided, proposed "A United Empire," coupled with the name of the Hon. Alfred Deakin, whose lofty ideals and honoured career were, Lord Jersey said, among the Empire's treasures. Mr Deakin, who met with an enthusiastic reception, declared that the loss of Mr Chamberlain was felt at the extremities of the Empire. The first and greatest means of attaining a united Empire was co-oper-ation for mutual defence, which was on an unsatisfactory basis at present, because the colonies, which were incomplete growing communities, were hardly strong enough to assume a full share of the burden of responsibility which undoubtedly they would claim hereafter. Meanwhile, they required some voice in the Empire's counsels if they shared the responsibilities of action. He referred to the unequalled, visible and untouched mineral resources of Australia, and the immense possibilites of its fruitful soil, and hoped that the stream of vigorous British emigration would be diverted to Australia. He was unable to understand those who despised trade as a means of uniting the Empire. He emphatically denied that Australians regarded preference as an ingenious device to benefit themselves. A preferential arrangement with all the advantages on one side would soon fail. Australia made a business proposition of mutual preferences for mutual advantage. If the Motherland considered it valueless, Australia would be the last to press its acceptance. He failed to understand Britain's attitude of timidity and fear. What would other nations think? Australia proposed preference to British goods, ships and men. They did not intend to come as a suppliant, soliciting some concessions to weakness or needs. He hoped that the adoption of an Imperial policy would remove the Motherland's present attitude of despondency, hesitancy, and uncertainty. He concluded:—"What we have let us hold, for we can hold it by our own people." Sir John Cockburn,Chairman of the Australasian Chamber of Commerce in London, proposed "British Australian Trade." Sir William Lyne, responding, said it was necessary to quicken British interest in the Commonwealth, which was apparently little thought of here. Many seemed not to want Australian" trade, but the Premiers hoped to induce Britain to take the products of British peopb instead' of those of foreigners. Australians were able to supply produce cheaper than it could be obtained elsewhere, if Britain would take it. The Women's Unionist Association of Edinburgh welcomed Sir Joseph Ward, and hoped that the conference would arrange an Imperial partnership based on preferential trade.