THE FISCAL POLICY

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1351, 11 January 1905, Page 2

THE FISCAL POLICY

A LETTER FROM MR CHAMBERLAIN.

(Pen Press Association.) Wellington, last night,

The Hon. J. Chamberlain, writing to the editor of the N.Z. Times, sayß that he never supposed for a moment that it would be possible to get a settlement of the fiscal issue at next general, election, not beoause of the unpopularity of the cause, but because there i 9 hardly auy instance in Great Britain, of a Government after a long period of ofifioe, being again returned to power. His own policy, he says, will be none the worse for a short period of opposition, whch will unite and invigorate them, and as they are praotioally unanimous in favor of an imperial polioy. “I am convinced that our victory will' come at no great distance of time. Meanwhile oar opponents are saying, and will continue to say, that the colonies. are not heartily with us in oar polioy, and that while they are ready to call for great sacrifices from us, they will make no adequate return. No evidence to the contrary affects the view of the partisans on the other side, but as I believe they are entirely mistaken, and under-estimate the patriotism of the colonies, a 3 well as their good sense, I am convinced that truth will prevail, and that the constituencies will reoognise before long that commercial preference is a first step to that oloser union on which future existence and power of empire as a whole entirely depends.”