BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1048, 16 November 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Nov. 13. Sir Edward Grey, speaking at Wost Bromwich, said evon if Mr Chamberlain carried his pledges as far as tea and sugar were concerned, consumers having to pay more for broad and meat, ho must meet a loss of oigkt or nine millions a year. An increase of colonial tariffs against foreign afforded no basis to unite the Empire. It was a most specious, taking cry, retaliation, but foreigners treated us the samo as each other, the duties being equal. “ Whom do you want to hit'? Why went to hit tehm, and with what? Answer mo,” ho said, “ aud I then will be able to consider tho case.” SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR. By Telegraph—Press Assooiation—Copyright Received 9,8 a.m., Nov. 15. London, Nov. 14. Mr Balfour received an ovation at a banquet at Bristol. Ho said the fiscal question had been always an open one with Conservative Unionists. Retaliation had often been preached, but latterly fell for the first tiino on ears attuned to hear it. The public demanded a certain change in the fiscal system. The Government formed a Cabinet entirely favorable to fiscal reform fitting to tho country's present situation and needs. Sir Michael Hicks-Boach supported Mr Balfour’s Sheffield policy, also that night’s speech. If tho choico lay, as ho thought, between standing still and a gonuiuo ohange of fiscal policy, ho preferred the latter, 4

MR BALFOUR AROUSES INTENSE ENTHUSIASM. GIVES HIS OPPONENTS SOME PLAIN TALK. By Telegraph—Presß Assooiation—Copyright Received 12.19 a.m., Nov. 16. London, Nov. 15. The crowd dragged Mr Balfour’s carriage two miles. Thoro was tremendous enthusiasm. Mr Balfour said “ Opponents fight shy of my schemo, and spend their timo in abusiog Mr Chamberlain, attributing sinister motives and unavowod ambitions, forgetful of the fact that ho abandoned a great office in order to preach the doctrines ho believed to bo vitally connected with the future of the British Empire. Opponents forget that true freetrade implies unrestrained intercourse betwoon products of nations, without imports and exportsi boing impeded by artificial barriers, They seem indifferent to the fact that every manufacturing country but ourselvos repudiates this interpretation, Tho most favored-nation clauso was a mystic phrase, fur from boing tho Bheet anchor of our export trade. Opponents declare that retaliation would offend the susceptibilities of tho Powers also. Does Britain exist on sufferonco ? Precisely tho same arguments woro used in regard to the fleet. Tariffs aro like floats. Thoy may bo usod provocatively, but we noed not admit incompetence to wisely uso the weapons we forge.

“If the colonies givo preference, are oppoDonts of fiscal reform going to allow them to be penalised by objecting foreign powers ? 1 should have thought if anything stirred tbo sluggish blood, or disturbed the self-complacency of so-called freetraders, it would havo been the thought that one of the great colonies, for tho sake of tho Empire, had given the Motherland special treatment. “ I could nover believo that a Britisher would sit passive, sullen, unresisting, watching the huge injustice of this colony being penalised for such an offence. “ I reject with profound contempt arguments based upon tho actual moment, leaving out of account tho toudonoies which are moulding tho future commercial fortunes of tho world. It would be little short of (national lunacy not to recognise these tendencies. It would be inimical to Great Britain, and stark Btariog folly not to take steps to prevent the growth of a state of things auguring little good for British industries. Government do not propose to rush Lord Rosebery. Thoy will probably leavo him to three years more, for solitary meditation.