BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1021, 14 October 1903, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

RAMPANT FOREIGN-TRADERS.

By, .Telegraph—Press Association—- . Copyright..) SYDNEY,. October 13. JFhc British Empire meeting resolved to caule an emphat c protest to Sir 11. Campbell Bannerman against the unwarrantaole conduct of ttir E. Barton and Hir John Sec, in cabling to Mr Chamberlain, expressing approval of ins fiscal policy, and that the meeting is of opinion that the next election will snow, that Australian people desire, without any bargaining or conditions, to reduce the tariff wall which at present divides Australia from, the Mother Country. Mr Reid declared that there were two ways of promoting unity and the welfare of the Empire., .The one he .preferred would leave these great self-governing States free to revolve in their own orbits without absorption in the central sun. What Was agitating Mr Chamberlain was not preferential tariffs, but the establishment of a partnersh pi in miliitary. adventures. Received 10.16 p.m., Oct. 12.LONDON, Oct. 12;

.The German agrarian newspapers are growing uneasy over the effects jof the proposed British tax on corn. .They recall how the French tax on .wheat, adopted in 1864,. enabled Algeria and Tunis to supply, France’s needs.

Mr Winston Churchill, writing to ■his constituents, avowed bluntly that he was flatly, opposed to Mr Cbamberlaini who, like all quacks, protested too much. Thjs colonies .will reject proposals cramping their economical development of commerce •and will shirk from an unnecessary revolution of trade. .Unionists would not be such fools as to hand themselves over to capitalist combinations. I-Io suggested that even Mr Balfour was playing the part of a trickster, but he was willing to .give Mq Bajfour power! and freejlbm to negotiate.

Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Oldham, said that if Ivounty-fed sugar injured the British refineries employing 4000 workers, cheap sugar created jam and biscuit-factories employing 120,000. 1 Lord Balcarres lias been appointed Junior Lord of the Treasury in place of Mr 11. T. Anstruther. Mr G. E. Foster, ex-Canadian Finance Minister, is coming to England to advocate Mr Chamberlain's proposals. Received 11.48 p.m., Oct. 13. LONDON, Oct. 13.

Lieut.-Oolonel Bromley-Davenport (the new Financial Secretary for War), speaking at Macclesfield, said that the Frkne Minister and new Minister of War were determined the country should reap the full benefit of the hitter lessons of the Boer war. He had advocated retaliation policy for seventeen years, and rejoiced in the promise of its effective realisation in the hands of the powerful, eloquent, and brilliand Premier. 1-le challenged the Liberal headers to come to Macclesfield and say that Cob.'denism had _bqen a blessing to the.-silk industry. ' Received 1.15 a.m., Oct. 14.LONDON, October 13.

Professor Bryce, speaking at Tunbridge Wells,' said, that the Government’s adoption of protection Was entirely due to Mr Chamberlain’s imperious will. The Government were afraid of Mr Chamberlain on the one hand, and afraid of the electors on -the other. Once the country accepted protection it would never again he free. It resembled entering a house where every door was shut automat cally behind you, and unopened again inside. Any thing wea‘kenimg'the heart of the Empire .weakened, the Einipire. Australia was not unanimous on the tariff question If freetraders were elected, preference would not be given ta Brtish goods. There was no certainty of South African preference. He characterised as unwise and mischievous the statement that the colonies, in the absence of reciprocity with the Motherland, might look abroad for reciprocity. The league for the colonies was the league of the heart-, not of the purse. Heckling between the Motherland and the colonies inyolved difficulties everywhere.