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and assistance proposed by Mr. Hofmeyr. I do not know whether you are in a position to say whether it is or is not worth while for us to initiate a discussion, which some of us, if there was time, would be most glad to enter upon, as to the imposition of a small uniform duty all round the Empire upon foreign gerods. the proceeds of which should be devoted to what may be termed Imperial purposes, such as the inter-communication you have spoken of. This proposal would not affect either Free Trade or Protection. It would not be a tariff but a surtax, if such a word might be used, to include goods not now dutiable, the proceeds of which would be devoted to Imperial purposes. Since Mr. Hofmeyr proposed it, Sir George Sydenham Clarke has fully developed it. Mr. ASQUITH : I think that is an idea of Sir George Clarke's. Mr. DEAKIN : If there was a possibility of any practical result coming from its consideration,*that is a method which, quite apart from all fiscal matters whatever, would provide a common fund that could be used for Imperial purposes. Perhaps it is not fair to spring the question on you. Mr. ASQUITH : No, please do not ask for my answer now. Mr. DEAKIN : Perhaps you would take it into consideration. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : Lord Elgin and gentlemen, I have listened with attention to the speech which has just been delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and from his standpoint, I must admit that it was an able speech and affords food for reply; perhaps not reply on the instant, but 1 feel when it sees the light of day—l do not know when it will—it will be replied to pretty vigorously. I cannot help saying, my Lord, that the whole tenour of that speech, if I may be allowed to use the term, and I scarcely like to use it, was alien to Britain's Colonies, it was treating the British Colonies on a par with foreign nations. When one remark was made regarding the desire on the part of Great Britain to be allowed to deal with her tariff as she desired and to deal with her domestic question as she desired I could not help thinking that that was equivalent to saying that the Colonies were not on a par with or not part of the domestic Empire of Great Britain. Mr. ASQUITH : No, I said the exact opposite, that we only claim for ourselves what we concede to them. Sir WILLIAM LYNE : That is just the point. I feel when Great Britain, our mother, is claiming anything for herself, she should practically be claiming it for all her Colonies, too, as a part of the domestic machine, because, if we are to have Imperial—l do not like the word, our people do not like the word " Imperial "—Defence and Imperial laws we surely should not be excluded from Imperial consideration as far as our commerce is concerned. I, as you know, altogether differ—it may be presumption on my part— from the foundation up to the very summit of the structure which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has attempted. Ido say from a firm conviction —as firm a conviction as"my friend Sir Joseph Ward gave expression to the other day—that if I was under the impression that the proposals we are making would increase materially the price of food or make the condition

Tenth D..y. 2 May 1907.

Pkki ki:i:\ 11 \i. Trade. (Mr. Deakin.)