THE EMPIRE’S TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 929, 30 June 1903, Page 2

THE EMPIRE’S TRADE.

IM POKT AX T SPEECH E S'. OPPONENTS IN EVIDENCE. By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. Received id.sl p.m.. 'June Id. I.OXIKIN, Juno 29. Sir William ilarcmirt, speaking at Malwond. declared that the secretof Mr Chamberlain's temperamentwas apparently the spirit of retaliation in it. It was risky to retaliate not on Germany alow, while pretending it was no burden on the people least able to bear it.

Twenty thousand attended a demonstration at Edinburgh. A resolution was carried that taxing food and raw material would impoverish the people, diminish trade, and endanger foreign relations.

Sir Ji. Campbell-Bannerman said that tile entire scheme collapses unless food is taxed. Win its advocates to that fact, and let the people make a choice.

Mr Asquith, at. a meeting at Boston, said : “ Let us by all means always keep our minds open to new facts and new arrangements, without revealing political childhood, beginning over again with the alphabet and multiplication table. The reckless launching of Mr Chamberlain’s scheme was a most serious blow to tlie Empire's unity, bringing fiscally and politically, instead of peace, a •sword.”

REPLY BY MU CHAMBERLAIN

By Telegraph—Press AssociationCopyright. Received J.lo am., June .'ld. LONDON, June 29.

Mr Chamberlain incidentally made if clear that, the workers and electors themselves would hereafter declare whether the revenue available under the scheme would be applied ultimately to old age pensions or immediate reductions on tea, sugar, or tobacco. Pensions were not an essentia) feature in the reform of Ilia fiscal policy. Some newspapers recommend tile public to await the result. of the economic enquiry and the presentation of a precise and intelligible scheme.

Mr Chamberlain, in a letter thanking the East. Birmingham Conservatives for their resolution. slalcl Hint be would be the last man to promote this discussion if he supposed flic scheme would in any circumstances injure the masses of the population.