BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1035, 30 October 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH,

By; Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. LONDONj Oct.. 28.

Mr Chamberlain, continuing his speech, declared that municipal con-

tracts had been given to the foreigner in the interests o£ the ratepayers, to the detriment o£ .workers. j; fair protection o£ labor was legislatively good, it was equally good to protect the results o£ labor. The legitimate objects o£ trade unionism were only secured and mane permanent by so long as they offered to the buliv of the workers constant remuneration and employment. ,l 1 propose,” he said, “ to meet the foreigner with his owij .weapon “ I propose,” he said, “to meet the foreigner with his own weapon, until he treats us better. I propose to treat the colonies better than hitherto. I ask you to take my pledge, and believe my sincerity m' giving it. I£ you accept _the proposals as they stand, it "would not add a farthing to the cost of living of any family, in the country, in my opinion, and in the case of the poorest they would somewhat reduce it. J hope to give you more employment, by, stimulating the best of our trades, that of our kinsmen across the seas.”

Pie then quoted statistics to show the relative greater progress of foreign shipp ng, and added : “ We our doing comparatively worse every year. Mr Asquith attributed ; this io want of intelligence, capacity, and to want of intelligence, capacity, and enterprise. Now, if in the whole country there is any trade of Which that is untrue, it is the one of shipping and ship-building.” Mr Chamberlain emphasised the loss of the Madagascar trade, and the threatened loss of that of Cuba. ' “ Air Roosevelt’s giving preference to Cuba,” he said, *' is similar to my proposal in regard to Canada. In reference to protection of shipping and other interests, I sometimes despair. It is considered beneath the dignity or duty of the Government to care for trade. My proposals will encourage colonial trade, and give shipowners return freight in ! the eases of Canada and Australia Trade will not decrease—only change in character of cargoes. In conclusion, he said : “ P plead for scientific. treatment of trade subjects, and power of bargaining. I ask for to-day, not for the future, preference for the colonies, binding 'them and us together. The issue rests with you. I know what our forefathers would have said. What is our task compared with theirs—a trifle. It is only for us to keep the fruits of the victory, they won, and show that prosperity has not weakened our nerve and destroyed our fibre. I warn the country that if it continues under the present system and leaves the colonies to seek reciprocity elsewhere, sooner or later the great Empire of our dreams will vanish, and not leave a wreck behind.” Resolutions were carried unan - inously eulogising Mr Chamberlain’s service, endorsing the Government’s fiscal policy, and declaring the advisability of. binding the Empire closer by mutual preference. ! Mr Chamberlain, in Ills speech, dealing with the question of shipping, said : { '- Can anyone,' even if he had the brains of a Free Foodcr, stand against the bounties and subsidies crossing the shipowner’s path, and then look at the disabilities under which shipowners suffer. We do hot require the loadline of foreigners.”

SYDNEY, Oct. 29. The Herald says Mr Chamberlain’s speech seems to have been one long appeal to the working man for support. As to any conflict between trades unionism and freetradc, it can only be pointed out that British workmen were never so well off in their lives as they are to-day. Traversing Mr Chamberlain’s claims in favor of protection, since the Empire should come first, the Herald remarks that it must be recognised that whatever tends to weaken the purchasing power of millions in the Old Country will prejudice the sale of colonial produce. The placing of a duty on wheat and meat for our benefit will, if the foreigner does not win his way in Britain, tend to raise prices here and enhance the cost of living.