521

A—s

something done; hut I see difficulties from the point of view of New Zealand, and I would suggest to Mr. Deakin, as we have had unanimity from the Colonies so far, that having elicted a discussion on this matter it would be better not to take a vote. Ido not want to vote against him; but from my knowledge of the way a surtax has operated in New Zealand and the uncertainty of my colleagues' views upon the matter as well as of the New Zealand Parliament I am not prepared to act in regard to a proposal which has a great underlying principle in it, that is this overriding system of taxation, I would not myself feel justified in supporting it. I am sorry 1 have to dissent from Mr. Deakin in this matter, but it is inevitable. Dr. JAMESON : Lord Elgin and gentlemen, I am not going to dissent from Mr. Deakin. lam fully in sympathy with everything he has said here on the subject; but at the same time it is quite true, as Sir Wilfrid Laurier said, this is too hazy and too complicated. I take it what Mr. Deakin had in his mind was to Cry to take some practical step forward. Mr. DEAKIN : Yes. If not this, what is the alternative ? Dr. JAMESON : We listened with the greatest pleasure to the extremely sympathethic speech from Mr. Lloyd George when he had to emphasise what the Chancellor of the Exchequer had already told us, that our pet idea must be abandoned, but that there were all kinds of subsidiary matters that would help in the same direction. What I was waiting for was some practicable scheme about the subsidiary matters, and still more for some practical suggestion as to the amount of money which was going to be put up to carry out the practical schemes, and no doubt Mr. Deakin having running in his mind these two practical propositions, brought this forward as a possible scheme for getting the money to do some of these subsidiary things which are proposed, and which we do not believe, but know, will help towards our ideas. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : You must have a scheme before you consider the money part of it. Dr. JAMESON : It is a very useful thing to have a fund to draw upon for any scheme. Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL : Having a fund and then looking for objects to spend it on was pithily described the other day as finding a biscuit in the street and then buying a dog to give it to. Dr. JAMESON : As a matter of fact, there is a general scheme which will cost money, and I believe I heard Mr. Lloyd George say that, with a view to fostering trade within the Umpire, he had already been to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to get money for the appointment of commercial experts. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE : I have been promised tt since. Dr. JAMESON : It requires money, but you said we will not stop there; we will do other things which will require money. Mr. LLOYD GEORGE: 1 had my scheme first, and then'l got my money.

Fourteenth Day. 9 May 1907.

Imperial SI'RTAX ON FoßKlliN Imports. (Sir Joseph Ward.)

67—A. 5.