LORD ROSEBERY’S SPEECH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1073, 15 December 1903, Page 2

LORD ROSEBERY’S SPEECH.

By Telograph—Press Association—Copyright Received 10.31 p.m., Dec. 14. London, Dec. 14. Lord Rosebery, addressing mootings at Edinburgh numbering 8000, including many workmen, said that Mr Balfour’s army reform speech was full of breezy trivialities, suggesting a Christmas extravaganza. Mr Balfour sent Mr Chamberlain to heat the woods for game. Meanwhile tho Cabinet sipped protection and gwater until ablo to dispense with water. It was evident that the Ministers who rosignod believod the Government’s real policy was not retaliation, but protection and preforontial tariffs. Mr Balfour’s tactics wore not straightforward. Lord Rosebery warned agriculturists that tho Government was leading them into a quagmire of disappointment. A 2s duty on wheat was an inadequate benefit to British farmers. It would only stimulate an illimitable area of competition in Canada and elsewhere. Tho time would arrive when tho United States would be unable to export wheat. Then would be Canada’s and Australia’s opportunity to develop virgin soils and become tho great supplying source of tho Empire. Tho bounty on Canadian wheat would increase the depopulation of rural England by attracting agricultural laborers to Canada. In tho event of war it would bo safest for Britain to have world-wide wheat supplies. Tho alleged preferential offers from the colonies was a delusion not founded on a substratum of fact. Tho colonial evidence shows that it is not true that the Empire cau only bo kopt together by preferential tariffs. Nover before was it so strong, united, and prosperous. Why arrest and disturb the beneficent development ? We were not a great military Empire like Rome or Russia, but a great defensive league of communities under the groat headship of the Crown. Each unit, including tb , heart of the Empiro, must develop its own conditions in its own way. He appealed to the nation not to stake the future stately company of commonwealths on a hazard of dice. Mr Chamberlain’s policy was experimental, empirical, untried, and unsolicited. Ho added : “ I refuse to strike a possibly fatal blow at the majostic structure of British commerce or Empire.” Tho meetings resolved in favor of freetrade against preference and retaliation.