BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1049, 17 November 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FISCAL CAMPAIGN.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, Nov. 15.

The Duke of Marlborough, speaking at Carlisle, said ho was confident the country would ultimately decide to draw a protective circle round Great Britain and the colonial dependencies, securing resources greater than the largest of Empiros, and becoming self-sustained. Mr Foster, spoakiDg at the annual ban-

quet of tho Anchor Society, Bristol, said the Cabinet was protectionist up to the hilt. The Government ought straightforwardly to toll tho country what it meant. Mr Chamberlain’s and tho Government’s policy were identical, and both were dangerous to trade, manufacturers, agriculture, and the working classes, wealth and progress, and would tend to disintegate tho Empire and the union at present founded on something other nobler than mere huckstering. Sir Michael Hieks-Beach,. while steadfastly opposing Mr Chamberlain’s unauthorised programme, said he was prepared to support Mr Balfour’s policy. He admitted that foreign tariffs and dumping had seriously injured the British exports and some industries. Unholy trusts and combinations were also injurious. He opposed both illegitimate dearness and cheapness, through the operation of trusts and tariffs. The Government’s policy in penalising foreign exports unless protectionist countries treated us fairly, was the policy embodied in the sugar convention, and might be applied with great advantage to other home industries. It was essential to trust tho Government to recognise that an ample cheap supply of coal and raw material was necessary for Britain’s welfare if the choice lay between standing absolutely on the old lines or a genuine change of fiscal policy. “ I prefer the latter. I concur with Mr Balfour’s remarks about the favored nation clause. While negotiating the Sugar Convention, I was much struck by the immense importance foreigners attached to our Freetrade market, and their intense fear of being deprived of it. If the British Government obtain power to negotiate, they will be able to employ two great levers, fear lest foreign countries be deprived of tbe British market, and, secondly, a growing popular dislike of European countries to the burdens of protection, I do not believe the destinies of the country safe in Badical hands.” „ Both Mr Balfour’s and Sir M. HicksBeach’s speeches were delivered at tbe annual dinner of the Dolphin Society,