FISCAL UNITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 174, 25 July 1903, Page 3

FISCAL UNITY.

MB CHAMBERLAIN'S CAMPAIGN. Per Pi ess Association, London, July 23. Mr Chamberlain, in accepting Sir J. 0. 6ugg»stio:i to deliver a fiscal speech in London, said : yladly to do si in January. After the provinciil fcimpabn is concluded, I will suaamarisa in the matrop >iis, the eeutra of the world's commerce, the conclusions I have arrived at and submit vhem for the consideration of my countryman."

| SPEECH BY MR BALVOUB. Rocsived 21, 11 22 p.m. London, July 24. Mr Balfour, speaking at the Primrose |L<isgu* barquet at the Hotel Cecil, t-aid that since Mr Chamberlain bad the best opportunity for knowing what the colonies were thirikiep, it wai unreasonable to Rubject him to recrimination for giving powerful and eloquent expression to their opioions. The Government approached the fiscal inquiry with an open mind. It would be folly to ask them to formulate a great scheme at a moment's notice. The [Government adhered to their pledge tihat the country would not be ask'd | to make a change until after the general election.

DI3OUSSION IN THE LORDS. Received 25, 0.30 a.m. London, July 24. In the Housa of Lords the Duke of Devonshire, replying to Lird Lytton, admitted the comments as to the tariff in the Birmingham publications were issued with Mr Chamberlain's general consent «nd approval. Lord J imfis of Hereford, declared it was unpr. cedented for a member of the G iverrimant to separate himself from the Cabinet; and announce a big fight wi'hout the co-opsration, and perhaps withon l : the sanction cf his colleagues. The results wera likely to be disastrous ■o ths nation, sin:e we were teszing ••very colony, irritating every foreign nation, and disturbing evi-ry Home !int«res\

Lords Spencer, Gross, and Northbrook concurred.

The Duke < f Devonshire said he considered Mr Chamberlain's position was dear, He made his inquiry respecting 50 years of free import, formed his conclusions, and announcad bis intention to obtain the constituencies': authority to make preferential over- j ture to tbe colonies. The Government's position was equally clear, as no member said a single word identi-1 fying himself with that policy, buli considered it a case for inquiry 1 and, until completed, the Government's 1 fiscal policy reimi-ed a policy as now existing. Ho had a better opinion of freetrada than to feel that extreme nervous anxiety so ma-y exhibited tha system should col'apse before the bias": of a powerful Minister. Lord Kosp.bery said tbe Government's position wa? unconstitutional. H'o doubted whether any inquiry, in the o-dinary sense of the word, was proceeding."