The Fiscal Problem.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7925, 5 October 1904, Page 2

The Fiscal Problem.

(By Electric Telegraph— Copyright) (Per Press Association).

LONDON, Octobers The Right Hon. A. J Balfour, Prime Minister, speaking at the Scottish Conservatives' dinner at Edinburgh, paid a graceful tribute to the late Sir William V- Harcourt, remarking that he was a hard fighter, whose thrusts were never poisoned, and adding, " All recognise that public men were the property of Britain and of no special party." He dealt next with Mr Redmond's boast that the Nationalists were destined to hold the balance of power and to exact their own terms, and said:—" As far as I and my colleagues and the party are concerned, no such bargaining can ever take place. They may make what propositions they like, and make what terms they choose with the Liberals, but we are not for sale." (Clieers).

Begarding the fiscal question, be said the Opposition dissected Ministerial speeches in order to show that they were less absolute than they ought to be on a polioy which" was to take effect after the next general election. Such heresy hunting, he declared was a waste of time..

He said that individually he was not a Protectionist, and personally he held the opinion that for Britain,, in the existing circumstances, Protection was not the best policy and not one he had ever recommended directly or indirectly to his colleagues in the Cabinet or the country. "It is a polioy," he said, " I do Dot believe expedient, and although Protection is an admirable doctrine in a Conservative party, and I would never think of diminishing the zeal and earnestness of my- support of the Unionist patty if-it took up a Proteotioniss line, I do not think I could advantageously be its leader. But the greatest interest we have to consider is the Imperial inters-, t, but we must take it out of the region of platform controversy. Surely it would be wrong to use voluntarily oc involuntarily Imperial sentiments as they exist in self-governing colonies as counters in a game, of throwing from one platform to another* We hear contradictory statements regarding the colonies' wishes,. I firmly believe that Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Cape desire closer union. Lord Rosebery thinks there is no indication of this, but whether Lord Rosebery is wrong, or Mr Chamberlain's estimation of colonial opinion is right, whether I, who, in this respect, entirely agree with Mr Chamberlain am right or wrong, the only way out of an impasse dangerous to the Empire is to have a free conference with the self-governing colonies and India, and determine, first, whether they :desire arrangement; second, whether it is possible or not."