BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1053, 21 November 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FISCAL CONTROVERSY^-

By Telegraph— Press Association— Copyright London, Nov. 19. Mr Galloway, a member of the Houso of Commons, impressed with Mr Balfour’s Bristol speech, has quitted tho Free Food League. Mr Chamberlain, continuing, suid tho position of isolation was a danger to Britain, and still more dangerous to tho colonies. Great States though they were, with smull populations, thoy would hardly hold their own against tho kind of iutorfereuco to which they might he subjected. If all came closer they would form a mighty Empire, each for all and ail fur each, so maintaining secure aud permanent thenplaces m the world. He believed all tho self-governing colonies shared that opinion. He had never endeaved to force his opinion on the colonies or dictate what they should do ; or interfere with their seli-goverumeut. He recognised that whatever was dono must ho dono freely aud voluntarily. He had always recognised that owing to tho varieties of interests and wide separation of the counties that tho foundation of tho British Empire was besot with greater difficulties than attended any other. He hoped and bolieved the good-will of the colonies would enable him to ovorcome tho 'difficulties. Ho had tried hard for eight years, one way or another, to advance towards tho supremo object. ’When ho found colonial representatives exhibited reluctance aud considered any particular step imtdvisablo or premature, he never pressed or sought a different way. Ho tried an Imperial Council of a permanent advisory character, so also a Council of Imperial Dofeuco; neither was accoptod, though regarding defence great progress had been mado on voluntary lines. The Motherland had seen a little ahead, and was willing to go further when the colonies were ready. Ono result of those eommuuicotions was seen in the readiness of Imporiul patriotism aud hue enthusiastic spirit which tho colonies displayed during tho war. Those not directly interested discarding any idea of pecuniary or seilish interest, recognised their duty in supporting tho Empire as a whole. Finally ho formulated the idea of commercial uutou, something in tho uifturo of a zollvereiu, but tho oolouial representatives conviucod him it was impossible. Ho next proceeded on altersgyyc liues suggested by tho colonies, which were ombunted finally in an official form by tho unanimous rosolutiuns of all tho colonial Prime Ministers. This policy connneucod by setting an example and declaring readiness without any reciprocal return to give preference to British imports. .Secondly Mimstors asked the British Government to tavorablo consider a policy which would lead to evon greater concessions on tho part of tho colouios. Such proposals wero entitled to most serious consideration by the country, being a most important step towards the accomplishment ,of jjre object he aud Colonial Ministers desired, aud which while in office ho used all his influence to impress on his colleagues aud tho country. Ho resigued to obtain;, a freer baud, und uow outertaiued an almost assured conviction that he would be able to bring his countrymen in these islands to seo how much it would bo to t-hoir g-tvan-tage to adopt such a policy, and one likely to load to tho great ideal on which the welfare of all parts of the Empire depended. There are 40,000 applications for tickots for Mr Chamberlain's meeting,at Cardiff to-morrow. »•

MORE SPEECHES.

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association —uopynghl.

Received 11.20 pan.-, Nov. 20. LONDON, Nov. 20^

A speaker addressing One Conservative club at ticlsbury said lie was not sure that eitner the wording man or general taxpayer was prepared to submit to an increase o£ taxation lor the sate ol a .preferential tarni That hau every formidable dillioMLy, as tne colonies did not provide food, . but only supplied raw material. We ■have, he said, to take raw material as well as corn, and gi.e them preference. WJiat was still more forliiidablCj he aid not see any evidence that the colonies were prepared to lower duties on British goods. Preference presented so many dillieulties that Government could not be responsible lor representing such a remedy. Possibly the difiiculties will disappear in the course o£ tnne i but ho did n-ot despair of greater consideration. Since Mr Chamberlain’s campaign had begun, foreigncountries had been far more reasonable regarding commercial relations with ourselves,; PcoploQiad better not rely ort rash policies supported by doubtful statistics, but on the old virtues of patience and prudent faith.

Received 11,37 p.m., Nov. 20 London, Nov. 20. Dr. Moriev, speaking at Dumfries, said that whon the womeu of England and Scotland reaiiso what was behind Iho bombastic fiscal policy they would induce the men foik to frustrate it. Protectionists proposed to bring down a great, clumsy ,ix 6 upon the delicate machinery upon which depended tho food and well-being of , the industrial population. If Scotland .vere once convinced the policy was moonshine, it would never bo carried. Tho heaviest count against tho new infatuation was that it discouraged and would check every free trade movement. A protectionist country would put 10 per cent, tax on our manufactures, and it would operate against colonial manufactures. Ho admitted there was cause to watch tho country’s trade with vigilance and anxiety, hut said the proposed jreck-'-less revolution would aggravate thoj difficulty a thousand fold.

MR CHAMBERLAIN RETURNS TO THE ATTACK.

By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright Received 10.53 p.m., Nov. 20. [ London, Nov. 20- [ In a preface to a revised edition of ten speeches outlining Imperial union and , tariff reform, Mr Chamberlain claimed that manufacturers and workmen had already decided in favor of the principle of hi 3 proposal. Ho had no doubt tho policy of free import was already doomed. It was more an open question when they would be able to give effect to the decision. Tariff reform ought not to bo settled by tbe ordinary method of partisan warfare. He wished Britain to be a court of political appeal from which party consideration would be eliminated. He often wondered that wo never adopted tbe Swiss or American referendum, which was the only way a decision on a great national question could bo separated from all complicated issues of party government. The case of the new palicy was not necessarily political. If possible he would eliminate all sido issues so that we might obtain a national verdict which all sections would accept, and which would be given without reference to tho perennial struggle of outs and ins. Fiscal issues were more vitally important to the working men than others, sine's ' they alone depend upon daily employment for a daily subsistence. Security of investment was an essential consideration for manufacturer and capitalist now, and always liable to interference. It would be impossible for him to provide against foreign competition which, unassailable at home, was able safely to attack while we were incapable of retaliation. He contrasted the supine helplessness of tho doctrinaire of freetrade and the active policy of the tariff reformers. The v chief ideal of the latter was to secure a preferential and reciprocal arrangement with the colonies leading to a nearer approach to commercial union, which must precede or accompany closer political relations, and without which no prominent co-operation was possible.