BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1076, 18 December 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FISCAL CONTROVERSY,

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, Dec. 16. A special meeting of the Australasian Chamber of Commerce, with three dissentients, adopted a resolution that inter-Im-Ferial preference tariffs would bo conducive to the improvement of trade relations botween the Motherland and the colonies, and the prosperity and progress of the Empire. Sir John Cockbum declared that moderate perferenco would stimulate Australian staple exports." Sir Edward Montague Nelson said the only effect a 5 per cent, duty would have on fore'igu meat would be that the Australian sheepfartner would get 5 per cent, more for his mutton than the Argentine farmer. A duty on foreign manufactured goods would largely solve the unemployed question and prevent an increase of the poor rate.

Mr William Lund urged the importance of reducing the shipping freights. Mr E. T. Doxat said Mr Chamberlain’s proposals were reasonable enough. The only question was whether they would benefit colonial imports to the United Kingdom. If the colonies were to be really benefited it would conceivably be by that which aroused the opposition of the working classes. Dr Rutherford Harris, Conservative, has been elected for the vacancy at Dulwich. caused by the death of Sir Biundell Maple, polling 4819 against 4382 polled by Mr Mastumann, Liberal. Mr Coates, Conservative, has been elected for the vacancy at Lewisham, caused by the doath of Mr Penn, polling 7709 against 5687 polled by Mr Cieland, Liberal. Both Dr Harris and Mr Coates sympathised with Mr Chamberlain’s policy. The elections were hotly contested. The present electorate of Lewisham has 18,708 voters on the roll, two-thirds being new voters, and Dulwich 13.515. The Daily Mail admits the results are a large concession to what it describes as the black-coated proletariat.

Berlin, Deo. 16, Mr G. E. Foster, formerly Minister of Finance in Canada, reporting upon his tour of England in support of the Chamberlain policy, stated that the fears of Canadian manufacturers were groundless. Britain know the colonies were intent upon increasing their industries. There was no thought in England of curbing their powers or preventing the development of their resources.

A Bill has passed the Reichstag authorising a renewal of the favored treatment to the British Empire. It does not prevent exceptions such as Germany attempted to apply to Canada.

Received 11.4 p,m., Dec. 16 London, Deo. 17. Mr Chamberlain addressed a meeting of 4000 at Leeds Coliseum, representing the Unionist Associations of Yorkshire, and an overflow meeting of 8000 workmen in the Town Hall. He was accorded an enthusiastic reception. Mr Chamberlain said ; Neither the number nor the authority of my opponents alarm me. lam unable to accept Mr Ritchie as a great financial authority because he was under the tuition of the Treasury officials for a few months. The speaker continued : “ Freetrado, like every institution, required revision after 60 years, especially when protective countries were invading the British market. Almost all protectionist countries were increasing in prosperity more rapidly than ourselves. It is nonsense to contend that protection will be our ruin. I am a freetrader in the sense that all trade should be free, and do not desire to bolster up rotten trades, or support unnatural trades. At present freetrado is not fair competition. I deny that the British workman is inefficient. When Mr Haldane says the Charlostenburg sohools will cure dumping, I decline to sit at the feet of such a Gamaliel. My assertion that our manufacturing trade with the protected countries is decreasing, while theirs is increasing, cannot be disputed, nor that our trade with British possessions is continually increasing. Even in the colonies dumping is proceeding, and endangering our hopes of further increasing the colonial trade.”

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S SPEECH.

‘ By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 12,19 a.m., Dec. 18. London, Dec. 17. Mr Chamberlain, continuing, said he doubted if many of the statements his opponents relied on to prove the unparalleled prosperity of the country could be accepted without limitations. Certainly they did not accord with Bannerman’s statement that there were 13 millions of population on the verge of hunger. The true test of prosperity was the comparative number of people in full employment at remunerative rates, and official returns showed that employment was declining. Lord Rosebery’s soothing syrup would not satisfy workless people. He added : Mr Asquith challenged me in the tone of cross examiner to show any trade that had been destroyed. I did not say absolutely destroyed, but am able to give scores of trades which have ceased to be great trades. Hundreds of mills have been closed or diverted to different purposes. I instanced silk throwers, flax spinners, leather tanneries, and woollen workers. When we find the cleverest people in the world adopt a policy different to ours, profiting thereby, we ought to abandon our conceit and take a leaf out of their experience. It was, he said, quite possible to make a scientific tariff without adding burdens on the taxpayer, while yet incidentally domg something.to develop trade. The foreigner had discovered the method of taxation which increases employment and makes a nation more able to pay taxation. Why should we suppose our scientific economists and manufacturers are unable to do what every other oountry and colony have done without experiencing the exaggerated difficulties that our opponents urge ? The Tariff Reform League was already forming a non-political commission of experts to consider the condition of trade and remedies.

Received 12.49 a.m.,. Deo. 18. Mr Chamberlain continued : The commission will comprise the leading representatives of every principal industry, every group of industries, representatives of trade in India, Crown colonies, and great autonomous colonies. It will invite witnesses of every trade to enquire not only into special interests of particular trades, but the interests of allied trades ; then frame a model tariff. Opponents were congratulating themselves that even if the reformers gained a mandate yet they would be unprepared to act 6ince the Government must devote two years to further enquiry, during which enthusiasm would cool, so that they would have no practical reiult. When tho country gives the mandate, and if tho Government in power be prepared to accept our princi pies, the reformers have ready a great part of the information and tariff upon which the country has expressed an opinion.

Received 1.27 a.m., Dec. 18. London, Dec, 17. Mr Chamberlain said : Since Cobdcn’s days there has been a remarkable change in National appreciation of Imperial ideas. Now no physical difficulty prevents federation of the race. Opponents allege we suffer foreign competition because so small, but wo possess an Empire of greater' popuiation, area, variety of products, and potentialities for the future than any. To achieve the desired Union requires a National, not a party policy. The colonies have been given an opportunity to commence to build. They have shown a general desire for reciprocal preference, and they have made us an offer if not of freetrade—l wbh it were—but an approach to it. That is something. If we get this nearer approach to commercial reunion why despair more. In time better make the experiment whatever the result.