IMPERIAL CONGRESS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10169, 20 February 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONGRESS

CABLE NEWS

United Press Association — By 'Electric Telegraph — Copyright.

QUESTION OF PREFERENCE.

HOME PRESS OPINIONS

(Received Last Wight, 5.5 o'clock.)

LONDON, February .18.

The Times, commenting on the forthcoming Imperial. Conference, states that while Australia and New Zealand' have suggested a number of subjects for discussion, and Africa half as many, Canada does not consider any question of sufficient urgency to warrant a suggestion. The Times adds: "The question of Imperial Preference, in wTiiclT Canada is keenly interested, will be barred,, though Africa originally proposed it. This has been a prominent feature at previous Conferences. Resolutions dealing with Inter-Im-perial reciprocity, were moved by Australia, New Zealand, and Cape Colony, and were supported by all th<3 others. But the door has been banged, -bolted and barred by Messrs Asquith, Lloyd-George and Clriirchill. These gentlemen still, control (th&r situation. It is not surprising that the Dominions will not expose themselves to another rebuff. Canada has emphasised her hopelessness by seeking elsewhere what she lias vainly sought here. Mr Asquith's argument at the last Conference, was that the Motherland had given a return for preference by bearing the cost of defence. The Dominions in the South intend to re" ply, 'We relieve you of the Defence, and will take back our preference.' " Continuing, The Times urges that the employment created by preference would not be compensated, for by a payment through the Exchequer. It declares that the spirit of preference cannot be banished from the Conference. Australia, it says, will keep the torch alight. Her suggestions headed the list of subjects submitted, but the Colonial Office placed them low down on the agenda paper. The Times commends the desire of New Zealand fev an open Conference. THE WESTMINSTER CA2ETTE. The Westminster Gazette holds the fact (to be of great importance that preference. does : not figure '■ on the agenda paper. But it asks, if any serious man following the course of colonial affairs since the last Conference believes that if the Dominions thought preference was vital to the Empire they would not have included it in the agenda and "had it out" with their cruel stepmother. The Gazette does not suppose that (the Colonial Premiers have suppressed any expressions of the sense of wrong which, according to the Tariff Reformers, animates the Dominions. . ■lt was more ' than ■ probable that the idea of obtaining preference, •played a much- smaller -part in"the politics of the Dominions than' tlie Tariff Reformers think.

th£ blank, sullen veto. The Pali Mall Gazette deehsros that the agenda for the Conference shows :j»ow" the heart has been taken out-of, the institution by the blanli, sullen veto which confronted the chief aspirations of the .Dominions. Apparently it had been decided to let Cbbdenism stew in- its own juice, and to discontinue knocking at a door which was barred' with so much animusi

NEW ZEALAND'S INTERESTING PROPOSAL. The Daily Mail states that one of the most interesting proposals for. discus ion at the Conference is that of New Zealand, which 'is intended to raise the political status of the Dominions in accordance with their," rapid development'. The' necessity, for consulting the Dominions on foreign affairs is,, it says, emphasised by Australia's protest against the Declaration of London.'

SIR GEORGE REED'S VIEWS. Sir George Reid, High Commissioner of the Commonwealth, stated in * the course of an interview that Australian preference would be of substantial value to the Motherland. "We thereby," he said, "sur-a-esnder revenue worth' millions." Australians favoured a policy of preference, but made no demand of any kind, though feeling very strongly. The Motherland must decide in what direction the advantage lies. The trend of Australian feeling was that if preference proved a beneficial policy to the Motherland, then Australia would gladly enter into it* with her. \A> must be remembered that - policy was now one , of Protection. It would be absurd. I to expect that she would endorse any system of mutual preference' which would destroy her young industries or allow them to be destroy-1 ed. Such an expectation would be idle. But they have proved that they can give substantial preference without any quid pro quo as a matte, -of sentiment. xie added that they could not conceive a healthier state of loyalty than that which existed on 'sentiment, which was sometimes stronger than the more material bonds, which might chafe as well as unite. The harmony was so wonderful, that a heavy onus' was placed upon him who would improve it by new methods, though evolution of some kind was certain.