( United Empire Trade League Publications. No- 24 J THE EMPIRE IN CONFERENCE UPON EMPIRE TRADE. JUNE, 1892. saw Tlie Empire in Conferen<^e in The Iraperial Metropolis of London upon THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE WITHIN THE BRITISH EMPIRE. I. On Tiiursday, Juno 23rd, 1892, AN EMPIRE TRADE CONVENTION was assembled at the Westminster Palace Hotel by "THE UNITED EMPIRE TRADE LEAGUE." VMEE JtMAMJW OBJTECT was 1o acquaint The Empire, and particularly the Mother Country, with the unparalleled resources of The Empire, and to show its pro- ductive independence of Foreign Nations, and THE PRACTICABILITY OF COMMERCIAL FEDERATION. The Right Hon. J. Lowther, M.P., presided, and there were present among others : The Premier of New South Wales, The High Commissioner of Canada, The Agents General for Victoria and Cnpe Colony, The Special Commissioner for Natal, The Ex-Premier of New Zealand, and representatives of The Boards of Trade of Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, and of many Chambers of Commerce in Australasia and South Africa, as well as the Right Hon. Sir George Bowen, G.C.M.G., Sir Donald Smith, K.C.M.G., Mr. Henniker Heaton, M.P., Col. Howard Vincent, C.B., M.P. (Hon. Secretary), Sir Frederick Young, K.C.M.G. ; Mr. David Evans,* Mr. Duncan, Mr. McFi?, Sir Guilford Molesworth, K.C.I.E., and others. * Mr Evans has shown by the experience of The Norwich Crape Company how goods had to be sold to France at the same price as before the duty was increased by 6 per cent. Carefully picpnred Papers were read, or Addresses deliverjd, by : The Hon. Sir Charles Tapper, Bart., G.C.M.G., C.B., High Com- mihsioner for Canada, on " The wheat capacity of Canada ; " The Hon. Sir Geo. Dibbs, K.C.M.G., M.P., on " The productive capacity of New South Wales and Australia ; " Capt. the Hon. Sir Charles Mills, C.B., K.C.M.G., on " The prodactive capacity of Cape Colony ; " The Hon. Sir John Robinson, K.C.M.G., on " The productive capacity of Natal ; " The Hon. W. B. Perceval on " The productive capacity of New Zealand ; " Cecil Fane, Esq., on " The productive capacity of Newfoundland ; " Sir Guilford Molesworth, K.C.I.E., late Consulting Engineer to the Indian Government, &c., &c., on " The productive capacity of British India; " W. W. Pownall, Esq., on " The Wine Produce of Australia." The Chairman explained that The United Empire Trade League now numbered nearly 6000 members, of which no less than 300 were members of legislative bodies in one portion or other of the Empire. Although some had been, and were still, advocates of the principle of what is popularly known as Free Trade, whilst others inclined towards Protectionist opinions, all were united upon the solid basisthat, having regard to the condition of trade throughout the world, the time had now come, if indeed it had not been too long delayed, when all having the interests of British trade at heart should cast aside old predilec- tions and prejudices, and unite in furtherance of a common aim, namely, the development to the utmost capacity of trade within the limits of the British Empire, and securing a preference within the Empire to trade which has its origin within the Empire over the products of countries outside the Empire. Mr. Lowther called attention to the fact that in the spring of 1891 the whole of the A gents- General of the Self- Governing Colonies waited on the Trade and Treaties Committee at the Board of Trade, and urged the denunciation of provisions in foreign treaties restraining preferential British trade, and that on September 25th, 1891, the Hon. the Senate of Canada, and on Septem- ber 30th, 1891, the House of Commons of Canada, voted on the motion of the Dominion Government an Address to the Crown " to denounce and torminate the effect of the provisions referrred to, as clearly adverse to the interests of the United Kingdom, and of each and all of it« possessions," and that on April 25th, 1892, the House of Commons of Canada resolved " That if and when the Parliament of Great Britain and Ireland admits Canadian products to the markets of the United Kingdom upon more favourable terms than it accords to the products of foreign states, the Parliament of Canada will be prepared to accord corresponding advantages by a substantial reduction in the duties it imposes upon British manufactured goods."* He explained that The United Empire Trade League did not seek to fetter the freedom of action in fiscal matters of any of the self-governing component ♦ Moved by Mr. Alexander McNeill, M.P., seconded by M. Desjardins, M.P., a leading French Canadian. ( elements of the Empire, bnt, snhject to the condition of affording a reasonable preference to Inter-British trade, sought to confirm that absolute fiscal freedom shall remain as the inalienable birthriffht of every independent community which is ranged under the British Crown. He also said that the staunch Free Trader passed no censure on Mr. Cobden and those who agi-eed with him, if he reluctantly arrived at the conclusion that although the theory and principle of Cobden might be right, the fact was indisputable that all the rest of the world had refused to act thereon, and adaptation to the real facts of the situation had become vitally necessary. In conclusion Mr. Lowther referred to the declaration of the Marquis of Salisbury on June 19th, 1891, — " With respect to those two u.ilacky treaties (with Belgium in 18o2, and Germany in 1865, precluding British Colonies from admitting British goods on more favourable terms than foreign goods) that were made by Lord Palmerston's Government some thirty years ago,* I am sure the matter of the relation of our colonies could not have been fully considered. We have tried to find out from official records what species of reasoning it was that induced the statesmen of that day to sign such very unfortunate pledges ; but I do not think they had any notion that they were signing any pledges at all. I have not been able to discover that they at all realised the importance of the engagements upon wh'ch they were entering. I think I can give you, with the greatest confidence, an assurance that not only this Govern- ment, but no future Government, will be disposed to enter into such engagements again. We shall be glad, indeed, to take every oppor- tunity that arises for delivering ourselves from those unfortunate engagements, but we can make no promise as to doing so at the price of other protective stipulations to which the trade of this country is pledged. The Government will carefully watch ; and before a very long time has elapsed no doubt some means of mitigating these evils may be found ; " and to the statement of the Prime Minister on May 19th, 1892, — " Foreign nations are raising one after another a wall, a brazen wall of Protection around their shores, which excludes us from their markets, and, so far as they are concerned, do their best to kill our trade. Nobody cares two straws about getting the com- mercial favour of Great Britain." Sir Charles T jppee, in the course of a very able paper, said — " Although the United Kingdom is obHged to import over £200,000,000 of food products for annual consumption, it is satisfb-ctory to know that in the outlying portions of the Empire almost everything that she requires can be produced. The great capabilities of India as a source of supply for wheat, and of Australasia for both grain and meat, are well known ; while these, and many other parts of the Empire, are also contributing in other ways to the food supplies of Great Britain, and their exports of this character are certain to largely increase. In Canada at the present time there are 25,000,000 acres under cultiva- tion, of which, according to the census of 1881, only 2,336,554 were under wheat. Leaving out of computation the unorganised territories * Canada has for ten years striven to procure the Abrogation of these two clauses, restraining trade between the United Kingdom and the Colonies. in the Dominion, and only takinf^ about •'iO per cent, of the area of the provinces as land available for as^ricalture, it may safely be predicted that in course of time we shall have at least 500,000,000 acres under cultivation. As most of this territory is suitable for the growth of cereals and for the raising of cattle, it will at once be seen how large the exports of such products from Canada may become — infinitely larger than the exports from the United States at. the present time. This condition of affairs was corroborated by a Committee of the Canadian Senate, appointed in 1887, to inquire into the resources of the Great Mackenzie Basin, and which reported * that the scope of the Committee's inquiry embraced 1,200,000 square miles of territory, and that there is a possible area of 050,000 square miles fitted for the growth of potatoes, 407,000 suitable for barley, and 310,000 suitable for wheat. That there is a pastoral area of 800,000 square miles, 26,000 of which is open prairie with occasional groves ; 274,000 square miles, including the prairie, may be considered as arable land.' " Sir Charles Tupper concluded by saying — " It seems impossible to doubt the practicability of producing within the borders of the Empire all the food products required by Great Britain, and it is equally obvious that the competition between India, Australasia, and Canada may be safely relied upon to prevent an increase in the co- • " From 7 o'clock in the morning till 7 o'clock at night, a man (Sheffield Cutler) could earn, on an average, 25b. per week." (President Sheffield Federated Trades Council, 15-8-92). Deduct rent, rates, and taxes all paid by the home ^^libducer instead of by the foreigner, and how much remains for wife and children ? 8 The Hon. J. Munro, Ageiif- General and Ex-Prime Minister of Victoria, said the colonies of Australia were protectionist because they found it necessary in order to provide employment for their own work- people, and because they desired, in case of war, that each colony should be able to produce sufficient for its wants within itself. The Hon. Sir John Robinson, K.C.M.G., of Natal, in the course of an eloquent address, said : — " The steadfast policy of Natal has been to remove every barrier to the extension of trade with the interior by reducing customs rates on goods in transit, by extending railways, and by keeping down railway rates. Of more interest to you will it be to hear that last year eight-tenths of our imports came from the United Kingdom, that more than one-tenth came frcm British Colonies, and that considerably less than one-tenth came from " Foreign Countries." These figures fairly represent tF o proportion throughout the past, and will, 1 venture to believe, re lect the pro- portion in the future, should the integrity of the Empire be maintained unimpaired. Facts are more conclusive than assertions, and I leave the figures I have stated to prove whether trade does or does not follow the flag. It would be improper on my part to speak in the name of Cape Colony, but I may be allowed without presumption to say that the trade returns of our older and greater sister colony tell the same tale. In Natal our inexhaustible coal fields are now, and have been for some time connected by railway from the pit's mouth with the sea port. Our coal is being more and more used by ocean-going steamers. It has yet to be realized in this country what this fact means to the Empire in case of war. Were the Suez Canal closed England possesses at Durban a coaling station which is fed with good steam coal from mines that are near enough to be out of the reach of any hostile fleet or cruiser. The coal fields of Natal, taken in conjunction with a completed railway system, and an improved harbour, mean to the Empire the command of a constant coal supply in time of war for the sustenance of.trade with Australia and the East, regardless of whatever might happen to the Suez Canal. I have been asked more particularly for a brief statement as regards the ability of South Africa to supply the needs of the Mother Country and the Empire. Time will not permit me to do more than supplement what I have said by a simple enumeration of the products which have been proved to represent the industrial capacities of onr conntry. They are : diamonds and other precious stones, gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, cobalt, coal, slate, limestone, and clay ; wool, flax, fibres, and silk ; cereals of all kinds ; sugar, tea, coffee, cayenne, tobacco, arrowroot, ginger, and turmeni ; fruit, preserves, and dairy stuff; live stock, hides, and skin; ostrich feathers, and tanning bark ; hams and bacon ; salt, spirits, wines, and beer. Given capital, industry, skill, and enterprise, these are the commodities which South Africa can produce to supply the needs of the Mother Country and the Empire and the world. It is impossible, however, to ignore the fact that under present circumstances the great bulk of our trade is done with the Mother Country, and that all the articles I have named can be supplied from other British Colonios. Australia can feed us with flour, as indeed she does now. Canada can send us timber, Mauritius, in case of need, could give us all the sugar we can consume, and from India and Ceylon wo could draw our tea. There cannot be a doubt that, so far as productive capabilities are concerned, the British Empire could bucome absolutely self-sustaining and self-supporting." Sir Guilford Moleswortk, K.C.I.E., shoN-ed that the avcrauo annual export of wheat from India during the seven years 18G5-71 was only about a quarter of a million cwts., but under a wise policy of State Railway extensions and low railway grain rates, it had increased enormously. The latest returns of the Government of India showed that the year's return at more than 30,000,000 cwt. of wheat;* or nearly 9,000,000 cwt. in excess of the English imports of wheat and flour from the Atlantic ports of the United States, as shown by the latest statistics of the Board of Trade. The wonderful elasticity of India is shown by the fact that, in spite of the increase from a quarter million to 30 million cwt., the silver price of wheat has not risen. Fifty-five per cent, of India's wheat exports, during the 15 years 187(3-90, have gone to England, 45 per cent, to other countries. The total yield of wheat of India was estimated by Government a few years ago at about 96 million cwt. or 14< millions in excess of the total requirements of England, and this production is on the low average rate of yield of Indian agriculture, which, in some experimental cases in the Government farms, has been trebled by proper systems of farming, manuring, and irrigation. The Government records have sliown that there are, in the Punjab alone, upwards of nine million acres of Government land suitable for the growth of wheat, but now lying waste, in addition to which are millions of acres of similar land in Central India, Assam, and Burma. In our newly acquired territory of Upper Burma only 16,000 acres are under wheat cultivation, although there are 17,800,000 acres of uncultivated land available for cultivation. The total quantity of uncultivated land capable of cultivation is about 98,000,000 acres. As regards quality, Dr. Forbes Watson reported to Government that many samples of soft wheat of Indian growth were equal to the finest Australian, and of hard wheat equal to the finest Kaabanka. The average prime cost of raising wheat in India has been estimated at 6s. per quarter, whilst that in the United States averages about 12s. 6d. per quarter.f Unfortunately Indian wheat has sufiered in reputation by the want of care in cleaning it before exportation. A few years ago he was invited to meet in New York a number of influential gentlemen connected with the export of wheat, and they all agreed that Chicago no longer fixed the price of wheat, but India. If the Empire is to be preserved it must be by the strong effort of a wide comprehensive policy, which will knit India with our colonies into one mighty federation, under an enlightened system of fiscal reform ; a federation, homogeneous in * Grermany obtained in 1890 a million bushels of Indian Wheat. — (^Report of Trade and Treaties Committee). t A prolonged correspondence in the Pall Mall Gazette, in June, 1892, proved that a fall at Liverpool of 10s. per quarter in the price of wheat had not been followed by any reduction in the price of bread . 10 character, unselfish in aims, and united in policy. No doubt, to use tho words of Professor Seelj, our problem has difficulties of its own, — immense difficulties; but the greatest of these difficulties is one which we make ourselves; it is the false conception that the problem is insoluble. Is it impossible to conceive a more foolish policy than that which neglects the development of this ample source of supply, and allows the trade to drift into the hands of foreign nations, like Russia ; thus arming her with the sinews of war which will probably before long be turned against us ? The Hon. Sir Julius Vogel, K.C.M.G., formerly Prime Minister of New Zealand, spoke on the general question, and said he thought Imperial federation was impossible unless it was preceded by some well-defined and rational fiscal arrangement. He also quoted statistics to show that by far the greater proportion of the duties paid by England on imports was paid to foreign countries, and only a small proportion to our own colonies, and urged tliat this state of things ought to be reversed. Wheat, wool, coffee, tea, tobacco, wine, butter, cheese, meat of all kinds, sugar, wood and timber, cured and salted fish were among the articles which the British Dependencies are fully capable of supplying the United Kingdom to an enormous extent be- yond what they now supply. He found that in respect of these articles during 1891 the Mother Country paid no less than 171 millions to foreign countries, whilst for the same classes of articles the English only paid to British possessions the sum of 56 millions. The object of the League was to alter these figures, and if j^ossible reverse them. He firmly believed that the consumers in the United Kingdom, who now paid 171 millions to foreign countries for a given amount of these productions, would find when they came to supply themselves more largely from the Colonies, that they would be able to obtain the same quantity for a much less amount, and that, of course, would be an important point for the British consumers to look to. He believed that when once British possessions were started on the road to supply the Mother Country with what she required, they would be able to supply as much as was desired, and cheai)er on the whole than tlie foreign producers, who have hitherto got the custom. The Hon. W. B. Perceval, Agent General of New Zealand, in the course of an elaborate review of the productions of New Zealand, said : " It is as a food-producing country that the colony of New Zealand is especially interesting to people in this country. The rapid increase which has taken place during recent years in the exports of surplus food from New Zealand, and the great capability of increased produc-- tion which the colony offers, points to New Zealand being found at no distant date in the front rank of food-producing countries. There was an increase in 1890 in the value of the imports from the United Kingdom to the extent of £83,193, or nearly at the rate of 2 per cent. The increase in the value of imports from Germany amounted to £31,339 — a comparatively small amount, but very large having regard to the value of imports in 1889, which amounted to only £18,964. The increase in 1890 was thus at the rate of 165 per cent. — another 11 evidence of the enterprise of the German merchants, which has heen very noticeable in recent years. The principal increases in imports from other countries were in those from Belj^inra, the United States, and the Fiji and Pacific islands. The followinnr statement shows the relative importance of the Australasian Colonies as markets for the productions of the United Kingdom : — Jixporis of Home Production from the United Kingdom in 1800 to — British India and Cey Ion . . • • • • £34,562,616 United States • • • • • • 32,008,128 Australasia — Queensland . £2,128,216 New South Wales . 7,334,666 Victoria 7,101,348 South Australia 2,040,559 Western Australia 464,209 Tasmania . . i - 009,344 New Zealand . 3,314,482 Fiji 13,180 23,006,004 £89,636,748 Germany • • • • • • 19,293,626 France • • • 16,567,927 Holland ■ • • 10,121,160 China and Hongkong • • • 9,138,429 Cape of Good Hope and Natal . 9,128,164 Argentine Republic 8,416,112 Italy 7,757,862 Belgium 7,638,712 Brazil 7,453,628 Canada 6,827,023 Turkey 6,772,061 Russia 5,751,601 Spain 4,999,705 Japan 4,081,793 Egypt • 3,381,830 Chili , 3,130,072 Sweden • 3,061,976 The exports of home produce to other countries did not in any case amount to £3,000,000. The Australian Colonies as a whole, with a population under 4,000,000, thus take third place in importance as consumers of British produce, the exports thereto being about two- thirds of the value of the similar exports to British India, with its 285,000,000 inhabitants. The consumption per head of the population might be somewhat less in the future as the proportion of adults decreases owing to lessened immigration and increase by births ; but the relatively high rates of wages, and the absence of causes for any extensive pauperism, will make the proportionate consumption of products for a long time high. The rapid growth of the Australasian IS population may thus be expected to largely increase the demand for British products, and the future of the trade between the United Kingdom and tlie Australasian Colonies will probably be such as to make them by a long way the principal markets for those products, and very important factors in the progress of the Imperial common- wealth." Mr. Cecil Fane, lately Private Secretary to his Excellency the Governor of Newfoundland, read a valuable paper on The Productive Capacity of Newfoundland, in concluding which he said : " There are many thousand square miles of country eminently suitable for all classes of farming; I have seen excellent samples of wheat, oats, and barley, grown upon the Island, while potatoes and root crops do as well as those at home. Sheep and cattle raising will, I feel sure, be one of the future industries of the Colony, the experiments already made in this direction having proved more than satisfactory. Natural grasses abound, and the barrens of the interior are eminently suited for the purpose. The climate is not so severe as that of Canada, the winters are shorter, and the cold is not so intense, while the distance to England is but 1,750 miles, and some day I fully expect to see a largo supply of beef and mutton shipped to the Mother Country. If the finances of the Colony are able to bear the strain of the extensions of the railway system now in progress, then I am convinced that the large and undoubted natural resources of the Island will make it one of the most valuable possessions of the British Crown, and open up a field for large emigration from this country. Newfoundland has suffered in the past from misrepresentation, but in these days of general knowledge and enlightenment the clouds that have hung over her for so long are sure to be dispelled, and the people of England will recognise that in their oldest Colony they have a possession second to none in the Empire." Mr. W. W. PowNAiL read a brief paper on The Australian Wine Trade, saying: — '* With an absolutely unlimited area on which vines can be planted, extending over not hundreds of acres, but over hundreds of miles of acres, where excellent land can be turned into a perfect vineyard, and in full bearing, at an outlay not exceeding ten pounds an acre ; imagine what a magnificent field of enterprise presents itself to us. I estimate that vines can be grown, and good wines made, on suitable and well-selected districts in the whole of Victoria, the lower half of New South Wales, and in the southern portions of Western Australia, thus giving such an immense choice of locality and climate, that with the assistance of man and science any conceivable description of wine may be produced. In addressing a meetino* interested in the United Empire Trade League on the subject of Australian Wine, it is impossible not to comment on the lack of interest and encouragement displayed by our Government in the treatment of colonial industry. When Mr. Gladstone, early in the sixties, reorganised t'ae wine duties, he lowered the rate of duty on wine coming into this coantrj, and thus gave a great impetus to the consumption ot light wholesome wines of comparatively low alcoholic strength. Th'^ trade with France increased with leaps and bounds. On the other hand, tiie trade in colonial wiuea received a severe check. For previous to 1861 or '62, wines from our Colonies were admitted into the United Kingdom at half the rate of duty charged upon foreign wines. At that period Mr. Gladstone introduced the Alcoholic test, which admitted light wines at one shilling a gallon duty ; but as he withdrew the preferential tariff that had been in force, our Colonies have since had to compete on equal terms with European countries. You will hardly credit me when I state that at the present time no difference is made by our English Custom House authorities in the amount of duty exacted between European and Colonial wines. Remember that we have on record a most valuable precedent, illustrating that Statesmen previous to 1860, so fi-amedour commercial treaties as to foster our colonial trade, and I feel, Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, I am not asking too much when I appeal for your hearty CO- operation to obtain a lower duty on colonial wines, or better still, their admittance Duty Free ! " A general discussion on the whole question was then entered upon, and among those who took part in it were Mr. M'Fie, Major-Genei-al Dash wood, Mr. Rose, Mr. D. C. R. Dawson, the Hon. H. Holbrook, of Canada, and Sir D. Smith. Mr. Henniker Heaton, M.P., briefly congratulated the League on the success of the meeting, and on their having included in their programme the great question of securing cheap postal and telegraphic communication. Sir C. Tupper then proposed the following resolution : — " That this convention impresses upon the empire the unlimited productive resources of the world-wide realms under the British flag, and their full ability, on the expiration of adequate notice for development, to supply the needs of the mother country And the other portions of the Empire in every substance required by any British subject independently of foreign nations. It urges the concentration of all patriotic efforts in Britain and Greater Britain upon pressing this home on the minds of the people, with a view to the extension of inter-British trade, the territorial security of her Majesty's possessions, and the personal advantage of each individual." In supporting it the High Commissioner said: — *' I regard our discussions of to-day as of great importance to the material welfare of the Empire, and I agree most cordially with the terms in which the Right Hon. Gentleman who presides has pre- sented this great question to your attention-. It is a question that involves neither an avowal nor disavowal of either Free Trade or Pro- tection, but it is a question upon which the strongest theoretical Free Trader, and the most ardent Protectionist may unite and stand shoulder to shoulder. I have already refrfsed in the Parliament of Canada to 14 discuss this question of Free Trade versus Protection as a matter of abstract principle. I hold that a policy may be perfectly right and beneficial to one country, whereas it may be suicidal in another country, and yet both under the same flag. I also maintain that a policy that in one period of a country's history may be the soundest and best in the world may require to be altered, and changed, and modified when dffferent conditions arise. We have no reason to suppose that, if that great and eminent man, Mr. CoBDEN, were alive to-day, he would stand fast by the original theory of Free Imports. We all know that he asked the support of the people of this country to a policy of Free Imports for Great Britain on the ground that he believed, as undoubtedly he did believe, that if England adopted that policy it would be followed by all the other countries of the world.* Therefore there would be no inconsistency in Mr. Cobden, if he were alive to-day, saying that, as the very basis upon which he rested the policy of Free Imports had proved to be erroneous and unsubstantial, England had a right to modify her policy and to adopt a different course. It is a proud position for any Empire to be able confidently to ask aflBrmation of the principles contained in this resolution. Here in England we have the centre of the mightiest Empire in the world, with possessions covering one-fifth of the whole territory of the globe ; in every clime producing everything that is necessary, not only for the maintainance of man, but also every luxury that he can demand or require. There is no other country in the world that stands in such a proud position or is able to reflect upon such a fact as that in these British Islands alone where the food products annually imported amount to over 200 millions, of which nearly 100 millions are for bread and meat. I say it is a proud fact to know that, whatever she may receive from foreign countries to-day, she has within her own Empire the means, independent of foreign and outside imports altogether, of furnishing herself with everything that her own interests can possibly demand. Under these circumstances I feel that this is a resolution that ought to commend itself to support, and I believe it will commend itself to the great mass of her Majesty's subjects in these islands. I also believe it is a resolution that will obtain united unqualified support in all the outlying portions of the Empire. I need not tell you the pride and the pleasure with which I listened to the Premier of one of the Greatest Australian Colonies, Sir jEORGE Dibbs, when he said he believed, that the same policy would meet with a hearty and generous response if submitted to his own or the neighbouring Colonies. I congratulate this United Empire Trade League that the time has come when the outlying portions of the Empire are United in the adoption of the policy it has propounded — when so high an authority as the London Times has declared that, " if the Australian Colonies and other portions of our Colonial * " You have no right to doubt that in 10 years from the time when England inaugurates the glorious era of commercial freedom, every civilised country will be free traders to the backbone." Thus spoke Mr. Cobden half a century ago, and no single Foreign Nation, and no single self-governing British Colony, has followed the free import lead of England, and the more advanced and democratic countries are the most protectionist. " England cannot be alone among the nations, cannot alone swim against the feeling of the democracy of every country to defend National Industry." — Cabdinal Manning. 15 Empire sustain the policy approved by Canada, the time has come when this qnestion will have to be reconsidered." In seconding the resolution, Col. Howard Vincent, M.P., reminded the Conference of the declaration by the late Right lion. W. E. Forster, in 1884, " Well, I am a Free Trader, but I am not so fanatical a Free Trader that I should not be willing to adopt such a policy for the great and important object of binding this great Empire together." The Hon. Sir George Dibbs, K.C.M.G., M.P., in supporting th^j resolution, said he approved of all that had fallen from Sir C. Tupper. Free Trade might have been wise nnd necessary in Great Britain fift^'^ years ago ; but the conditions of life and trade had greatly altered, and the time had certainly arrived when Englishmen should reconsider the whole question. It has been said that every country must make laws suited to its own necessities, positioi, resources, and convenience. That is the view we took in Australia. A Free Trade policy may be suitable at a certain time and up to a certain point ; but it does not follow that, like the laws of the Medes and Persians, it is a policy which altereth not. It seems to me that the time is coming when England must reconsider her position in this matter. Remembering the old adage that blood is tiiicker than water, and viewing the whole circumstances, I admit that I feel myself personally bound to the warmest advocacy of this resolation. The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously. In response to a vote of thanks for presiding. The Chairman said what the League had endeavoured to do was to place a distinct policy before the country, and to show the people that it was practical. The great difficulty they had had was as to whether the Colonies as a whole would be prepared to carry out that policy, but seeing what had taken place at the Conference, and that among the many Colonial representatives present not a single syllable of dissent had been uttered, he thought there could no longer be any doubt on the point. Ho thought, therefore, they were now in a position to approach the Government with a view to an Imperial Conference being convened on the question. The proceedings then terminated, the Conference having lasted several hours. II. On June 28th, 1892, and following day, THE SECOND CONGRESS OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF THE EMPIRE * was assembled in the Hall of the Merchant Taylors' Company. One hundred and thirty-six Chambers of Commerce were represented, under the presidency of The Right Hon. Sir John Lubbock, Bart., M.P. * Tlie London Chamher of Commevce Journal, and that valuable organ of British trade, The M