THE LATE CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8446, 21 May 1907, Page 5

THE LATE CONFERENCE.

COLONIAL PREMIERS INTERVIEWED.

Received May 20, 9.28 p.m. LONDON, May 20. Dr. Jameson, in an inteiview at Southampton, on the eve of his departure for South Africa, declared that he was disappointed at the result of the Imperial Conference, but certain principles had been affirmed and definite steps taken which would bear fruit in the future. Dr. Smartt, interviewed, complained of the timidity of the Imperial Government in refusing to examine and dispassionately consider the vital question of fiscal reform. Even with a mandate against preference, the Government might have reduced the duties on tobacco in the interests of the Empire. Received May 20, 9.36 p.m. LONDON, May 20. Sir J. G. Ward, in an interview with Reuter's agent at Brindisi, said that it would be idle to say that before the coming conference he believed that a resolution favourable to preference would be carried, because he understood the Imperial Government's declared policy was in favour of Freetrade. Though personally he believed the question of Protection ! versus Freetrade ought not to be allowed to enter into the question of i preferential trade, yet if preference was regarded as a Protectionist policy it would have been paradoxical to have found' a party opposed to Protection and preference supporting it at the conference. He emphasised that the conference had proved in no. wise abortive. On the contrary, much valuable information had been recorded at what, after all, must be, , remembered as the first practical ( business conference held, and which ! | should yield practical] results in the future.