BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1046, 13 November 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

BIRMINGHAM MEETING.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

Loudon, Nov. 11,

The Mayor of Birmingham explains that he accepted tho chairmanship of the Cecil and Churchill mooting on condition that only Unionists would speak. Tickets have been distributed irrespective of persons or political parties. Ho admits that the organisers of the meeting are tho Freetrade Union, whose principal officers are Liberals.

The Times says tho meeting will practically bo a Liberal demonstration against a Unionist Government.

The miners at Bell’s Hill, Lanarkshire, adopted a resolution unanimously supporting Mr Chamberlain’s proposals. Berlin, Nov. 12.

Herr Gothein, a member of the Roichstag, addressing tho Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, said protection would materially reduce the freights earned by British ships and English banker’s profits in negotiating foreign loans. He declared Mr Chamberlain's proposals wore gaining ground, and blamed German newspaper attacks and Gorman Customs legislation as the chief cause of friction between the two nations. Ho added that the present outlook in German commercial politics was cheerless.

MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM

By Telegraph—Press Association—. Copyright

Received 12.44 a.m. Nov. 13 London, Nov. 12, A meeting of 4000 inside the Birmingham Hall contained a large number of the opposition element, but the proceedings were orderly. By a great majority the meeting carried tho resolution submitted by Mr Winston Churchill, recognising the right of the Government to proposo retaliation in special cases, but condemning a general protective tariff, including a tax on food, as disintegrating tho Empire and burdensome to tho poor. Mr Churchill declared he was proud of his connection with the Free Food League, and added that Mr Chamberlain was doing what ha thought best for the Empire, but what about landowners and manufacturers pouring cheques into the Tariff League’s coffers £ Was it all for the Empire’s unity and the workers good ? He proceeded to argue that protection abroad had been a failure, especially as regards the workers. To say that protection moant greater development of wealth was an economic fallacy. To say it meant fairer distribution of wealth was unspeakable humbug. (Cheers),

DEAKIN AND REID.

By Telegraoh—Press Association—Copyright

Received 9.55 p.m., Nov. 12. London, Nov. 12. lho (Daily News, commenting on the forthcoming Commonwealth elections, says : Mr Deakin is using Chamberlainism as a big drum to bang at every meeting, simply because he favors protectionism. Mr Reid’s policy of giving large. British preference without conditions was perfecfcly straightforward, while nothing was more unreal than the offer of Mr Deakin and Australian protectionists, which create friction with foreigners without giving the smallest advantage to Britain. Received 10.56 p.m., Nov. 12 ' London, Nov 12. The North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, by an overwhelming majority, endorsed Mr Chamberlain’s proposals. The Unionist Press at Birmingham “ strongly urged that any outside interference would give the Cecil-Churchill meeting at the Town Hall a fictitious importance ; besides an attack on free speech was deprecated, giving a party complexion to the fiscal question. Barriers were erected in the adjoining streets and others precautions taken. A good humored crowd of 5000 assembled outside the Hall,