Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, OCT., 13, 1904. Fiscal Reform.

Manawatu Herald, 13 October 1904, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. [Established Aug. 27, 1878.] THURSDAY, OCT., 13, 1904. Fiscal Reform.

The subject of Fiscal Reform is becoming one of engrossing interest throughout the British dominions, and more especially since the speeches recently delivered by Mr Balfour at Edinburgh and Mr Cham-

berlain at Button, Lincolnshire. The Prime Minister’s utterance is perhaps of greater note than that of the ex-'Afionial Secretary, since, while much of the propaganda laid down by Mr Chamberlain was merely a repetition of the ideas he had before expressed, Mr BalfourV speech indicated somethin' of 11 departure from his former ■ -’ijimu on this matter. As usual '.-m deliverance of the Prime Minister was full of indnfinitonoss. fu the course of his remarks he stated that he still adhered to the policy he had announced at Sheffield, i.e., Retaliation. This policy, ho contended, did not carry the seeds of developement in a direction that protectionists or Freetraders might hope for or fear (This statement is hardly correct. The freetrade party at all events is very much opposed to a retaliatory tariff, such as Mr Balfour proposes.) Personally he was not aprotectionist, and a protectionist policy was not one he had ever recommended, directly or indirectly, to his colleagues in the Cabinet or to the country. Here Mr Balfour plunges into a palpable Inconsistency; he says he is not a protectionist; and yet it is impossible to See how the doctrine laid down by him differs in any essential from protection pure and simple. Continuing, Mr Balfour said he could not advantageously take up the leadership of the Unionist party if it advocated protection. He also stated that lie believed that the colonies desired closer union with the motherland; but whether this was so or not, he was in favour of a free conference With the selfgoverning colonies and India to ascertain whether they desired an arrangement, and if so, whether one was possible or not. He considered, however, that before a conference took place, any plan of Imperial union, fiscal or otherwise, should be first submitted to the people to determine their wishes on the subject. This in the main was the gist of Air Balfour’s speech It cannot be said that it goes far towards elucidating his opinion on fiscal reform. The only new note he struck was in his reference to an Imperial conference. He agreed with Wr Chamberlain that a conference was necessary, though at the same time he also agreed with Lord Rosebery that the colonies should appear at the conference only hymen who were representative of colonial opinion. Mr Balfour was as usual very hazy in his remarks on fiscal reform. The attitude he attempted to assume was apparently that of a “ protectionist-freetrader,” though as to what his real sentiments are the nation is as much in the dark as ever. It is considered in some quarters that Mr Balfour’s latestspeech will have the effect of consolidating the Conservative party, though the Conservatives mast he very much lacking in backbone if they can adopt the spineless policy which Mr Balfour has just enunciated. As before mentioned Mr Chamberlain’s speech was very much on the same lines as those previously delivered by him. If anything it weakened rather than strengthened his cause. In the course of his address, Mr Chamberlain referred to Air Balfour’s definition of the word “ protectionist,” and stated that no matter what his opponents said, he had no more idea of reverting to the protection of 50 years ago than he had to the freetrade of that period. Mr Chamberlain apparently recognises the odour that attaches to the name protectionist, and by a subterfuge he endeavours to disguise the real significance of his proposed reform. After running over a great deal of old ground, Air Chamberlain touched upon the suggested Imperial conference. “If the colonies agree - and I know well if we make offers no man in his senses would wish to refuse if we meet them in a similar spirit, not haggling over fractions of a penny, and try to make arrangements, all our proposals will be approved.” Mr Chamberlain’s overweening assurance in making this statement is amusing to anyone cognisant of the real facts of the case. Still he may well be pardoned for deviating somewhat from the truth in the heat of oratory, thißfh at the same time such exaggerations do not tend to carry conviction to the mind of a thoughtful observer. Thus far, the ex-Colonial Secretary practically agreed with the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister at Edinburgh, but the former differed in one particular from the. latter in his views respecting a conference between the colonies and the mother country. Mr Chamberlain considered that Air Balfour’s proposal that any question in connection with Imperial unity should be first referred to the electors,, would involve much inconvenience and delay, while it -would possibly mean the introduction of new issues. If Air Chamberlain had said probably he would have been more correct. Whatever our legislators may think or do, there is no doubt that the majority of the colonial people, if a plebiscite were taken, would ponder deeply before assenting to Air Chamberlain’s proposals ; and it is just this probability that makes Mr Chamberlain the

more anxious that the matter should not be referred to them. The question is one that should certainly be decided by referendum, and it is likely that Mr Balfour’s more democratic suggestion will find favour in the eyes of the colonial public. Mr Chamberlain concluded with one of his customary perorations on Imperialism ; and yet somehow or other his words do not appear to convince the British nation. What is it that neutralizes their potency ? The reason is not far to seek, Mr diamberlain has played too many parts in his time to now obtain the confidence of the British people. !e has the reputation of being a politician who trims bis sails to every breeze, and there' is undoubtedly some justification for this. The consequence is that lie is either not taken seriously, or else his plans are regarded with feelings of suspicion. If the Preferential Trade Scheme had emanated from a statesman who possessed the confidence and esteem >f the nation, there can be little doubt that it would have made greater headway than has been the case. But there are other grave objections which have considerable weight In the dydd df Englishmen, vfr Chamberlain attempts to convince his audiences that protection will enrich everybody landlords, farmers, laborers but the laborers have wit enough to see that this is impossible. The array of noblemen and landowners wild sdppdrt him tell a tale which the humbler part of the people cannot miss. Protection will undoubtedly enrich the landlords, hut at the expend of the poorer members of the community. In alluding td this danger, the Standard says On the dne side we have a combination of great landed aristocrats and wealthy manufacturers gathered together, it must seem, in the hope of filling their pockets and magnifying their rent rolls, by taxing the food of the people • on the other slide, tlid aileilt armies of the workers in town and country, grimly and resentfully resolved on the defeat of this conspiracy, US they deem it* to snatch something from their poor comforts in order to enrich their landlords and employers. Sere is a situation such as we have not faced for threequarters of a century a situation that recalls the time when Disraeli drew a fiery youthful pen to- write the story of 1 Two Nations ’ the nation of the rich and the nation of the poor.” There is a considerable degree of truth in this argument* “ But,” says the British Weekly, 11 there is another danger in this propaganda. Mr Chamberlain is always talking about the poor, simple, helpless foreigner paying our taxes. He seems to imagine that by a stroke of the pen the financial burden of this country eai be transferred to France and Germany and America, These countries, it is assumed, will find it impossible to help themselves. Are we so simple in this country as to imagine that other countries have no wits and no power of feeling? The nations whom Mr Chamberlain proposes to constitute the taxpayers of Great Britain are not eager to accept the responsibilities. They will certainly not accept them without making a tremendous fight. Is it to hi imagined that they have no weapon i that there is nothing they can do to pro'ect themselves and retaliate upon us ? As a matter of fact they can do a great deal. By the time we came out of the conflict, we should in all likelihood find ourselves worsted, and we should have raised against ourselves an implacable rage which would threaten the future of the British Empire. Mr Chamberlain’s plan is to despise his adversaries. H» has had to beat retreats in his time. His victories have been paid for very dearly by the nation. If it were conceivable that he should carry this campaign to success, the prospect it opens is one of total and immediate rain. We have confidence that if wiser men will do their best this protection crusade will come to an ignominous end ”

A French authority has discovered a curious fact. He had two thermometers —one of ordinary gjass, the other painted black —placed in the sun. In the white glass the mercury rose to 144. Under the black paint it went up to 157 in the same position. A farmer’s son has lived a hermit’s life for thirteen years in a wood on his own freehold not far from Dunmow, Essex. His strange abode, which covers about an acre of ground, is fenced by a high hedge, and is entered by a gale coverd with barbed wire and always kept locked. His only com mnnication with the outside world is an occasional visit by night. With regard to the disturbance at Tc Puke, a settlement near Tatiranga, which resulted in a Maori being sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment for assaulting Constable Stagpoole, an eve-witness of the affair Informs us that matters became very serioUS at one stage of the fracas. A number of Euro peans were besieged in the Hotel, which was surrounded lay a howling mob of Maoris. Te Puke has a Mounted Rifle Corps composed mostly ot Maoris, and they were asked to at tack the Europeans with fixed bayonets. Fortunately the Maoii Volunteers re trained from taking a hand in the dis tnrbance, which was quelled after much difficulty. Foxton presents far and away the best facilities for indulgence in acqnatic sports on this coast between Wanganui and Wellington/ At one time these opportunities were fully availed of, and the old identities love to tell of the famous regattas which Wefe field here in former days, the laurels won by local flbaropions, and the picturesque Maori scenes Otl these festiVd days, There', is still with us a remnant of the ClUti Which once flourished here. It proposes to hold a meeting to-morrow night at 7.30 p.m. in the Racing Club's Office. The opportunity of reviving this famous sport in a locality where stlch excellent facilities are afforded for It should not be overlooked by the residents. Names ot new riienfbers Will be gladly accepted, and also by the way their subs., which, for the benefit of some who do not know, we should mention are a neoassary antecedent of membership. A Maori girl aged four years, residing at Whakarewarewa, was severely scalded on Wednesday afternoon by falling into one o( the ulatny boiling pools in that village. The little girl had followed two others of more mature years, who were on their way to a cooking hole, and had been sent back by the others When they discovered she was following them. Gn the Way home the Child walked aefoss some planking that covered a fadt pool,- from which the baths at the Geyser Hotel are fed. While doing so the timber gave way, and she fell into the hot water up to the hips, and hut that she was caught in the planking by the armpits would have been Completely immersed. Her cries attracted the attention of some neighbours, who at once went to her assistance and extracted the unfortunate child from its perilous position. Remedies were applied to relieve the pain, and every attention was bestowed on the child. “ You expect too much from your clergyman,” the Bishop of Melbourne said to a thronged meeting at the Town Hall, Melbourne, in connection with the diocesan festival. He then went on to relate that on one occasion he was asked to recommend a clergyman for an English parish. They wanted so many excellent qualitites and accomplishments embodied in one individual that he made a list of their requirements. He found that they wanted a married man, a good preacher, a good musician, an efficient platform speaker, a good visitor, and half a dozen other things. When the list was completed he said : “It seems to me you want an angel, but it is not in my power to command the services of one, so I shall send you a weak, frail mor tal man like yourselves, and when you get him treat him kindly, make the most of him and draw out everything that is good in him by encouragement and help.” The moral of the story was much appreciated by the rev. gentleman on the platform.