A.—6

430

Twelfth Day. 7 May 1907.

Mr. DEAKIN : Personally, I do not object to that in principle, but I do not know that it affirms anything. Dr. JAMESON : You cannot either object or affirm. Sir JOSEPH WARD ; If you add to that " and that every effort should " be made to bring about co-operation," then I think we could all support it. Mr. DEAKIN : Where would you put those words ? They are better. Sir JOSEPH WARD : At the end. Mr. DEAKIN : Anything after " co-operation"—do not you want " between them," or something of that sort ? Dr. JAMESON : This puts us in a perfectly absurd position. It does not really negative, but any one can read a negative into this, to the resolution we have just passed of 1902. Mr. DEAKIN : Do you think so ? Mr. LLOYD GEORGE :I do not think so. You have expressed your opinion that this is your way of co-operation, but we suggest other methods of arriving at the same end. It is not a negative at all. Sir JOSEPH WARD : I suggest that these words be put in : " And that " every effort should be made to bring about co-operation in matters of mutual " interest." Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : Yes. « Sir JOSEPH WARD : We are in co-operation on defence, emigration, and naturalisation. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : And for trade, too, we can co-operate. Sir JOSEPH WARD : If you put that in I will support it. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : Certainly, by all means. Sir JOSEPH WARD : " And that every effort should be made to bring " about co-operation in matters of mutual interest." Dr. JAMESON : May Ibe allowed to say a word about this. We, all the self-governing Colonies here represented during the last six days, have affirmed our belief in preference. His Majesty's Government during those six days have affirmed their belief in no preference. We are each to have liberty of action, and now we say we are both right. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : No. Dr. JAMESON : That is the position. Mr LLOYD GEORGE : We are to co-operate within the limits we have set down for ourselves. That is all, surely. Dr. Jameson does not say

Preferential Trade.