BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XII, Issue 1081, 24 December 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FISCAL CONTROVERSY.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrtgbi London, Dec. 22.

Mr Chamberlain has been elected honorary president of the Tariff Commission, which opens on January 15. Lord George Hamilton, replying to the Conservative Association’s resolution, urging support of Mr Balfour, declines to compromise, declaring that Mr Balfour is willing to tax food if Mr Chamberlain is able to cajole the constituencies into a transient acquiescence of tho principle. The St. James Gazette says the suggestion made by Sir George Clarke, late Governor of Victoria, that one half per cont, tax on foreign goods should be applied to tho promotion of British maritime commercial interosts, is good if practicable, but it does not go far enough. The Daily News says the Australian elections havo given a fatal blow to Mr Chamberlain's policy of preference. It is clear the Australian outlook is not towards Imperialism at all. Melbourne, Dee. 23.

Mr Deakin, commenting on English criticisms on tho election, says the statement that the elections had gone against Mr Chamberlain was erroneous. His policy was supported by tho Ministerial party and by a largo majority of the Labor party and an influential minority of tho Opposition. Tho criticisms showed there was scope tor the education of the leading English papers on Australian politics. Received 10.55 p.m., Dec. 23. London, Dec. 23.

Mr Gladstone, speaking at Birkeukoad, said that tariff reformers wore spending money like water, and he would like to know whence the money came, under what conditions it was given, and what the donors’ expectations were, Ho did not want any Tammany business in English public life. Tariff reformers claimed that Mr Chamberlain was a business mao. Hooley was a man of business, but hi 3 miscalculations paled before Chamberlain’s ovor tho war, and the country would not accept the present nostrum. The whole question rested on Mr Chamberlain’s shoulders. Without him tho party was, like an engine without a boiler, burst. The Liberals were going to fight a battle for freefrade, which made tho country, and would fight to the finish. The Liverpool branch of the Unionist Free Food Leaguo condemned the tariff taxation as protection, Messrs A. Taylor arid McArthur, members of the House of Commons, uphold a continued policy of freetrade, and strongly condemn Mr Chamberlain, The Congress of Liberul Uoionists of the North-Eastern Counties and Lancashire overwhelmingly favor Mr Chamberlain’s policy. -