BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1029, 23 October 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

By TelegrapU—Press Association— Copyright London, Oct. 21. Mr Chamberlain had an overflowing meeting at Newcastle. Ho appealed to workmen not to approach tho discussion in a mean, unpatriotic, heckling spint. Ho asked them to remember tho unselEh help lhat Australia and Canada gavo during the war. It was impossible to con trovert the statement that wageß would rise if there was more employment, and employers got a higher profit. “My P l "0gramme,” said he, *■ is to go with a stiff back to foreign competitors and say. 1 Gentlemen, wo think you havo played your game long enough.’ Then go to our friends and kinsmen m the colonies, and say: 1 Having regard for tho probabilities of the future, it is high time John Bull s sons entered into partnership. Wo ask you to help us, invito you to our Councils, eaii you to bo ono with us in trade as in everything else.’ I believe the appeal would be reciprocated by Britishers throughout the world, and then thore would be no limit to the prosperity of tho Motherland and of tho colonies.’, Some 29,000 tons of Belgian nails were dumped into Staffordshire in 1902, the manufacturers’ loss being 4s per ton, covered by a carcee, ensuring a profit of 40s per ton to the Belgians. Mr G. A. Touch, chairman of directors of Patterson, Laiog and Bruce, Limited, Australian warehousemen, speaking at a meeting of] the shareholders, said it was impossible to be satisfied with the present commercial situation. Twenty years ago, for every 20s worth of goods shipped to Australia by the United Kingdom 2s worth was sent by foreigners. Now the foreigners sent 8s worth of goods to Australia for every 20s worth of British goods. In their own business American competition has become aggressively active. If Australia had 10 per cent, preference against foreign countries most of the goods which were sent to Australia from America would be sent from British territory, and lines which had gone to Germany would return to Great Britain.

GREAT MEETING AT TYNEMOUTH

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S DETERMINATION. WILL SEE THE SCHEME THROUGH By Telegraph—Pres3 Association—Copyright Reoeived 11.5 p.m., Oct. 22, Loudon, Oct. 22. Mr Chamborlain held a great meeting at Tynemouth. He denied the issue was sprungon an astonished country, remarking : “I distinctly announced to the Cabinet that I would resign if preference was not accepted as the policy of the Government, enabling me to appeal to Ctesar, though not in the spirit’of unfriendliness to the Cabinet. If I fail at the first general election 1 will proceed until cou- , vinced that the colonies will reject the scheme, which is improbable, or the British are so provincial as to bo unable to understand tho magnitude and importance of tho issue. Oi tno voluntary offers of preference made by Ottawa twice, London had rejected them, owing to pedantic ideas. Recently they had converted a freetrader like Mr Ritchie. I am .unable to see how wo can retain the colonies’ goodwill, which is too precious to be played with. Opponents allege that I proposed at Glasgow that the colonies should enter a self denying ordinance to never under any circumstances extend the number of their manufactures or conquer new fields of commerce in competition with the Motherland. That arose from a misapprehension, and was intended to make the colonies believe I was blind to their natural conditions and necessities and prepared an arbitrary step ot progress in order to secure advantage to Britain. The colonies know that under no circumstance do I want to interfere with their commercial freedom any more than 1 would like them to interfere with ours. When we negotiate wo shall see bow far it is possible to arrange a policy mutually advantageous. I believe the colonies prefer to deal with us, and givo preference sufficient to open new fields of commerce, now worth £26,000,000 a year, which in three years will probably be three fold. It will also bo possible to stimulate British emigration in a manner advantageous to the colonies. I think the colonies are inclined to frame future tariffs on natural and not on artificial lines, encouraging manufactures lor which they have special facilities, aud not encouraging manufactures which they may possibly buy cheaper. This policy, combined with preference, would leave Britain with a constantly increasing trade, making full amends tor any loss in other directions. I am confident that tho colonies would negotiate in a spirit of generous appreciation without haggling. If a mandate were given it would be advisable for the Colonial Secretary to proceed to the colonies and negotiate on the spot. The meeting enthusiastically resolved that the time was opportune for the consideration of the fiscal policy.