PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 1279, 28 November 1903, Page 5

PREFERENTIAL TRADE.

Lcited Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, November 26. The Earl of Onslow, replying to a correspondent regarding the eilect; of Mr Chamberlain's proposals on agriculture, said he did not believe llio ultimate cost of the first necessaries of life would be enhanced. Dairy produce-, which came principally hoai foreign countries, may be enhanced, while the wheat from a million colonial acres, yet untiMed, would enter froe. He would not recommend the English farmer to break up a single acre to sow wheat. The farmer who welcomed a shilling tax on all imported wheat would equally welcome a 2s tax. The Government believes that negotiations for freer trade with _foreign nations will succeed. Increased imports will give more employment and better wages to the urban population and enable them better to purchase the more expensive fresh products of the home lands, whereto the farmer would be giving increased attention. Colonial competition in these articles, under Mr Chambertein's scheme, would not be keen-

Mr Asquitih, speaking at Bodmin, said Freetrade and Protection wer<* the only two feasible policies. There was no halfway house. The Liberals must defend the existing systetm with might and main.

Lord Ripon, at Bradford, declared that Mr Chamberlain's scheme placed additional difficulties in the way of an Imperial Customs Union. He was surprised at the Hon. Mr Lyttelton's exhibition of effusivq gratitude for Mr Seddon's kindness in making a proposal which was useless to Britain. . . Lord Halsbury, addressing the London Welsh Conservatives, said that since Mr Balfour never proposed excessive retaliation and the Duke of Devonshire admitted that retaliation was some remedy against excessive tariffs, he was surprised that the Duke of Devonshire was not giving the Government and the country the benefit of his advice and assistance. He (the speaker) protested againsU the shameful detraction and abusd of Mr Chamberlain. SYDNEY, November 27. In the Council, Mr Hawken moved a resolution adverse' to a., preferential tariff. After one member had supported it and another opposed it*., the motion, on the suggestion of the AttorneyGeneral, "was wihdrawn.