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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[February 13, 1904.
classes by 4d. a week for a labourer and 3d. a week. | the Colonies entered into. If Mr. Chamberlain's for an artizan, while education would just about policy was as good as his oratory there might bring it back to the status quo. Mr. Cham. be nothing for England to fear. Mr. berlain based his desire for protection on two Cham erlain's second proposal, however, of pro- allegations-(1) that it is not well with the taction of home manufactures, was worthy of trade of the country, and (2) that there is a the support of all who wanted the possibility of our Colonial Empire being Empire to be self supporting and not England broken up unless we tax the people of Great alone. It was just as easy, for instance, to Britain for the advantage of the Colonies, In bring wheat from Canada as from America. support of the first allegation Mr. Chamberlain A policy nearest approaching Free Trade was advanced the argument that the export trade of the best for the Empire. the country had been practically stagnant during the last 30 years, or rather that in 1872 it was 255 milions whereas in 1902 it had only risen to 278-an increase of only 23 millions or only about 7 per cent. while the population in- creased about 30 per cent, In support of the second allegation he could find nothing which suggested such a possibility in Mr. Chamberlain's speeches except an allusion in the Birmingham speech to the effect Resolved that in view of the increasing that the Colonies had been backward restrictions on importation of British goods hitherto in their contributions towards Impe-into foreign countries, Great Britain should reconsider her policy of free entry of foreign goods into her ports.
Zealand, 10 per cent.. and Australia was likely to follow, and they were prepared to go farther if Great Britain were willing to meet them with corresponding advantages. But this was exact ly what Great Britain could not do, and what Mr. Chamberlain wantel Great Britain to be able to do. We could only say to our Colonies, "It is very good of you to give us a preferenc, which we accept with pleasure, but you must not expect anything from as in retur, for, no matter how much you may do for us, we are very sorry we are not able to extend the same benefits to you, 88 our system will not allow it." The Colonies could | not always give and not receive. Besides this, the Colonies, by giving a preference to the mother country, laid themselves opan to the attacks of foreign countries, who resented this mark of favour, and the mother country could do nothing but look on. Was this in accord with the dignity of the Empire, or conduciva to its consolidation ? No, it was not; and our present system would only tend gradually to alienate the Colonies and lead to the disruption | rial defence. Was not the small share contri- of the Empire. The builders of the Empirebuted by the Colonies towards the expense were increasing enormously, and we must draw
of our
national defence rather a bond of the Empire closer together, so that the burden union than B sign of disaffection ? might fall equally on all. A policy of Australia and Canada came to the front
'splendid isolation "
was no longer practicable gallantly when we were in need of help. Our for Great Britain. Her interests and her des Army and Navy cost US somewhere about tinies were bound up with the Colonies, and the £1-12%.-6d. par head of the population. Colonies with the mother-land. In union lay The Australian burden for defence was 5/- per the strength of the permanence of the Empire, head and the Canadian 1/6 per head. As Lord and its union must be based ou common com- Rosebery said at Sheffield the credit of the mercial interests. What were the greatest Colonies was the credit of the Empire. He interests of a nation? Trade un-loubtedly, and questioned whether anyone would deny that the greatest interests of the Empire were our the period which had elapsed since the in- Imperial trade. In fostering, improving, and troduction of Free Trade in 1846 had been extending that trade the best inter sts of the commercially the most prosperous that England Empire would be served. There were two roads had ever gone through. Mr. Chamberlain had before us, one leading to the gradual decline of stated that our trade bad only increased by 23 our industries, and ultimate disintegration of millions since 1872. There had been an im- the Empire, the other leading to a strong, mense drop in the price of commodities united, prosperous Empire, self-supporting, since then. During last session Mr. Herbert self-relying. That was the road to which Mr. Samuel, M.P. for thé Cleveland Division Chamberlain was pointing, and on which he of Yorkshire, asked the Board of Trade what wished to lead the nation. We stood at the value of the exports of 1902 would bajat the parting of the ways. Mr. Chamberlain's the prices obtaining in 1873, and he was to.d policy was intended to consolidate the 418 millions. This would show an increas of commercial interests of the Empire; in 163 millions as against Mr. Chamberlain's 23 consolidating the commercial interests the millions. So that instead of being stagnent our foundation-stone would be laid for Imperial export trade had nearly doubled itself during Federation, the best interests of the nation the 30 years under review. The tonnage of would be safeguarded, and in safeguarding the shipping carrying it had also nearly doubled best interests of the nation would be secured the itself. Mr. Asquith recently quoted the lasting union and permanence of the Empire.following figures: -Great Britain, in 1870, Mr. Haskell conclud d by proposing the follow. ing resolutions:-"(1) That the tim has now arrived when, in view of the increasing restric tions on the importation of British goo is into foreign countries, Great Britaiu should recon- sider har present policy of free imports. (2) That Great Britain should enter into nogotia tions with the Colonies for the purpose of arranging, so far as possible, a preferential tariff between the other country and the Colonies, and vice versa, with 8 view of promoting the closer union of the Empi.e and developing its combiaed resources."
Mr. W. D. GRAHAM said the only sound bit of doctrine he had read expounded by Mr. Chamberlain was in his speech at Liverpool, and had he made the disadvantages under which our shipping was placed the key-note of his agita. tion he should Lave been with him heart and soul, but shipping was entirely outside his scheme of tariff reform. There could not be a British subject livin who did not sympathise in the alleged object of his campaigu, which were in his own words (1) the maintenance and increas of the nation 1 strength and popularity of the United Kingdon, and (2) the creation of an Empire such as the world his never seen, But it was doubtful, to quote him again, whether it was "only by commercial union and reciprocal preference that you could lay the foundations of that federation of the Empire to which we all look forward as brilliant possibility." To secure that he proposed a tax not exceeding 2/- per qr, on foreign corn except, maize, a corresponding tax on flour, a substantial preference on colonial wines, and to take off three-quarters of the duty
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tea and half the duty on sugar, cocoa, and coffee, and to put a duty of about 10 per cent. on manufactured articles. He estimated that the added taxes would increase the cost of living for our working
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Mr. SOUTAR said that the Fiscal question might be made a very difficult one. Protection was not altruistic, but very realistic, and and on it depended the prosperity of the Empire, the advance of the interests of its trade, and the binding together of the Empire,
The CHAIRMAN thanked the lecturer and speakers, and said he had two resolutions to put before the meeting, as follows:-
On a showing of hands it was found that this resolution was carried by 36 to 4.
The second resolution was then pat, Resolved that Great Britain should enter into negotiations with her colonies for the purpose of forming an union more closely bind- ing their commercial interests together.
This was carried unanimously. With a vote of thanks to the chair the meetingbroke up.
HONGKONG CRICKET CLUB DANCE.
The Hongkong Cricket Club gave a subscrip- tion dance at the City Hall on Tuesday, and a very enjoyable function it was, everything passing off in the smoothest manner. The indefat gable secretary, Mr. T. C. Gray, deserves the greatest praise and thanks from members of the Cricket Club at Hongkong, as does also Mr. Sercombe Smith, chairman of the Dance arrangements. Others who materially contributed in the preparations are Fleet-Paymaster Wilson, HMS. Tamar Commander Shelford, H. M. S. Glory, Lieut. Jellicoe, H.M.S. Ocean, and Capt. Davies, A.O.C., who assisted with the decorations; and Mr. H. Hancock, and Lieut. Smith, who supervised the floor, programme, and band. tonnage of oversea shipping, 5,700,000 tons; in Entering the well-lighted City Hall by 1902, 10,000,000 an increase of 4.700,00). the main porchway a dazzling profusion of Daring the same period in the U.S.A. there Japanese lamps, electric lights, palms, flowers, was a decrease of 620,000 tons owing, so Mr. banting, etc., showed up the handsome stair- Asquith said, to the excessive cost of shipbuil-case. The grand central design at the large first- ding in a protected country. The figures were in 1870, 1,500,0 10 tons; 1902, 880,000 tons. Sir Henry Fowler told us that the trade of the country during the first nine months of 1903 was 17 millions better than in the corres- ponding period of 1902. He thought Mr. Chamberlain ignored home trade too much. Out of 750 millions paid in wages only about 130 millions were assessable to the export trade. Referring in conclusion to retaliation the speaker granted that it was a good thing a basis for negotiation but a 10 par cent. duty was a very insecure foothold in negotiations with an enemy charging from 30 to 50 or етед 100 per cent. The 2/-duty on corn amounted to about 7 cent. on present prios and it seemed insufficient to be effective though perhaps enough to cause friction between Canada and the United States, from whose ports so much Canadian wheat was shipped in the winter. (Applause.)
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The CHAIRMAN then called upon Mr. Sims for a speech for the other side.
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storey landing window wasdraped with flags of the Hongkong Cricket Club and Shanghai ricket Club. Upstairs, the sitting-room adjoining the ball-room was handsomely decorated with wreaths of flowers, palms, bunting, and pictures; one of the latter was of W. G. Grace, and another of an old English oricket match. ball-room itself was most praiseworthy from every point of view, the floor being in excel- lent condition, and the ornamented walls very pretty. Various blazers and cape of the many cricket clubs
which Hongkong cricketers have belonged were included in the display, covering the bases of pillars in conjunction with oricket-pads, stumps, and bats. The portrait of Queen Victoria had most prominence, while the principal flags, that is, those occupying the most important positions, were those of Beitsin, Japan. the United States, and China. On photograph showed the teams of Hongkong and Shanghai 1993, and another of 1898, on both occasions Hongkong being victorious. The various dances were numbered up on a board in good o d cricket style. Here is the list, each dance being named after a
Mr. SIMS said that he somewhat diff red from Mr. Haskell, as he thought it was indeed sentiment that sent the Australians and Cana.oricketer :- dians to fight for the Mother Country in South Africa, showing that sentiment did hold the Empire together and that protection alone could save England. But for the colonies it might be a different matter. Hongkong cer- tainly did not want protectiou, as it was a mere distributing point for the markets of the world.
Mr. HURSTHOUSE said there should be liberty to tax, but it would be difficult to remove taxes if | they proved failures, were fiscal treaties with
Valse. Valse.... Lancers... Valse. Valse.... Two Step Valse... Lancers.. Valse. Polka...
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Valse....................................... Valse.............................................
W. G. Grace
C. B. Fry
K. S. Ranjitsinhji A. C. MacLaren
P. F. Warner
R. E Foster
G. L. Jessop
B. J. T. Bosanquet J. R. Mason
8. M. J. Woods Lord Hawke
F. 8. Jackson
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