250

A.—s

as oats and barley, which grow prolifically on the highlands of all the States, and obtain some share of the 29,000,000/. now paid to foreign countries. I f we secure only one-fifth of this trade, employment would be found for a large number of farming hands, and if our export of wheat only reached the figure of 8,500.000/., or twice the past year's total, and other grains 5,000,000/., as they might very well be expected to reach under a slight preference, this would mean the additional employment in the Commonwealth of 200,000 persons. All of these would be purchasers of British goods, far larger purchasers than foreigners are, and of the goods you most wish to sell. Under preference we could obtain all our over-sea requirements within the Empire. The trade in meat and livestock offers wonderful possibilities. England imports bacon to the value of 12,750,000/., other meats 25,750,000/., and live animals for food 10,000,000/. The total trade amounts, therefore, to 48,500,000/, and of this Australia "supplies only 1,750,000/., or less than 4 per cent.; while under a scheme of preference no limit could be set to its possibilities. Mr. ASQUITH : I think no bacon comes from Australia '. Mr. DEAKIN : Practically none. Mr. ASQUITH : Why is that ' Mr. DEAKIN : As far as I understand the market is already in the possession of Canada and the Argentine. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : Ishouhl say the United States of America send a lot . Mr. DEAKIN : Yes, a great share. Mr. ASQUITH : Canada has a very large bacon export. Mr. DEAKTN : As regards fruit, produce to the value of 10), millions sterling is imported annually into England, and of this Australia sends only 2+0,0007. Of course, I am' looking at the Australian trade all through. Many other articles could Ire enumerated which, under a preferential arrangement, could be exported from these States, but the articles named sufficiently illustrate the possibilities of Australian development. The French tariff shows how other countries foster their Colonies. In the north of Africa the French have the Colony of Algeria, and the Protectorate of Tunis, and it is to be expected that, sooner or later, Morocco will come under French dominion. With a view of developing French interesls in these countries, their gain is admitted to France duty free, while against other countries an import of 18ft. 3d. per quarter is levied. France is, therefore, already doing for its Colonies what England is hesitating to do. Tt is clear that so far as its external markets are concerned Australia has much to gain by preferential treatment on the part of the Mother Country, nor is it obvious what it is possible for her to lose if she in turn o- a ve preference to the produce of Great Britain. Canada, South Africa and New Zealand all give preference to British croods, and their export'trade to foreign countries has not been preiudiced thereby. The direct benefits of preferential trade have been plainly indicated, but there are indirect aelvantages, especially to the Mother Country, which are worthy of consideration, particularly from the point of view of the Colonies as a

Kighth Day, 30 April 1007.

Preferential Trade. (Mr. Deakin.)