FISCAL REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 216, 8 October 1903, Page 3

FISCAL REFORM.

MR OHAMBERLIIN'B OAMPAIGN. PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. London, October 8. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Leader of the Oppcsicion, congratulated the Oobden Club on having secured indications thit the be3t workmen unanimously cordemned the resh fanatic scheme of fi-;cal rcf .rm. | Sir J. Stirling-Maxwell and Sir 0, B. j Rensshaw, Commoners, have declared] against Mr Chamberlain's po'ioy. Mr Chamberlain and his wife had a tremendous send-off at Birmingham. Accommodation has been provided for upwards of one hundred newspapsr reporters at the Glasgow meeting. There were sixty thousand applieacants for tickets. The finding of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerca Committee on the fiscal question is on the whole favourable to Mr C&amberlaiii'g proposals, the majority of the members replying that they approve of 'rade within the Empire, confined to Empire ships, but open to vessels of nations agreeing to reciprocal relations. MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH. TREMENDOUS OVATION. | A NOBLE 4IM. BCOH AN EMPIRE AS THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN, CRACKS IX OUR COMMERCIAL FABKIC. TIMSLY WARNING OF A MIGHTY STRUGGLE. EXPORTS AND POPULATION. NOW OR NEVER. Received 8,1.16 a.m, London, October 7, Five thousand persons were crammed into St. Andrews Hall, 70,000 having applied for tickets, including many noblemen, Commoners, and great representatives of the Scotch commercial community. Mis Chamberlain and many ladies were pi«?ent. Sir Matthew Arthur, chairman of the West of Scotland Liberal Unionist Association presided.

Mr Chamberlain, who received > a tremendous ovation, said:-"I am dolighted to open my campaign in the city where freetrade was born and Adam Smith taught broader minded ar.d wider Imperial conception than Fome modern professors. lam not ffraid to combat free imports, and to preach preference for the colonies in Glasgow, for i f s prosperity was founded upon colonial relations, Scotchmen, the grpa* Empire builders, will remember it re-

quires genius, capacity, and courage to maintain as well as to create an Empire. Though lam no longer a party leader, I am a loyal servant party, believing its existence is ees"ntial to Ihe welfare of the Empire. Mr Balfour was entitled to declare his official policy and fix the time when the principVs should beapp'ied. I approve his policy, and admire bis courage and resource. The mean libellous inpinuationsapplied to myself will not affect in the slightest degr n our friendship and mutual confidence. Under no circumstances can I be put into competition, direct or indirect, with him. I do not expect to snt'He the question off-hand, as I am aware flu countrv education, like I did myelf. I • k my coun rymeo to impartially con»i ler the jjreat-ftui al; giva q 'esnons, nd possibly, then, they will go a little • eyond th- official programme, »s is] fri-n done without hum. Discu s'oa miy reveal ditfer of opinion, bu ! ; ~hey are mainly differanci-s of method. My object is to maintain and increase be national strength,and theprospnri'y of th« United Kirgdon, and to realise he id', al of creating an Empire Buch as the w rid has never seen. We mmt cement the union of States, and consulidate the race, enabling it; t,o meet all classes cf competition, We want to be no isolated country, but one fortified, strengthened, and buttressed by a continuous chiia of States of kinsmen speaking a common tongue and paying allegiance to a common flag. The question ought to be treated on its merits without personal feeling or bitterness. It was useless to force a great change by a small majority oa a large unwilling minority. I believe it will become a national policy consonant with the feelings, aspirations, and interests of an overwhelming proportion. The couDtry is considering the question, then why not leave well alone' I do not anticipate a sudden fall of British commercial supremacy, yot I see signs of decay, cracks crevices in ths wall of thu greit structure, its foundations not being broad or deep J enough to sustain it. Knowing and believing this, am I wrong to warn he nation to prepare in time for a strugg'e greater in its co"\S'quences than the late Bo c r wur ? If we are defeated we shall iosa that place among nations which we occupy at present. We are asked to er gage in this struggle with at liquate ) weapons and old-fasniot-ed tactics. It is not well today with British in<?ustiy. With the whole woild we Lave been going through a period of pronperous expmf<ion, but I see signs of a change, and when it comes evc-n the free food advocates will : i> < evinced. The year 1900 whb a record year for British ezpoitp, ;nd 1902 was nearly »s pood. Sii ce 1872 t,her.« h«s b'-ea the moderate i> crmse of 20 millions in out • sports, equal to 7g p9i cent, hut meanwhile the p pula ion b*d incn aged 80 per cent. Oar. you go on supporting t! e popu'atiun i-,t >uca rate cf incr> as-t-? In h■" aume pwioii .ha ini't < f the Umu-o S ; , t rs w uM !e a b ndied miliinip, and v a Ger many 56 miiiio! s. Th« ti .de of t,b U- n t-pf? Sates whs pracfcio«l'y ■•ngn ni

for 30 y«-ara, while the pro'ec. d countries insf-d of goic» to wicck ai d ] ruin, bad p ogr ss«d it.fiuituly bet'vr in p'opor ion. In 30 yf-ans f ■t ei 'r t-xp'.rts or m-.ijufactuffcs to tht Kingdom >ad iccivas-.d from 63 rai!1 ons to 149 millions. c-ut'ely th justifi d a n-vlrion of ihe opinions our ancestors he'd. I Itnper al trans was I'.bso'ubly essen-j Itial to our >;rop- ity. If it doe-no Jin rease, we 'lio p si'ion of a (fifth-rate ristion. H me; f our oppooe: toiregard our having reached 'ha hu'hext point with absolute complacency I Jo not believe in ihes t'\ n ~f >he British star, bi cauau I balievo thf) workir;. clashes mil-is wake up «nd modif) our policy to meet now cor.ditiniis America bas produced everything, aiici is ludod ev- ly'hitiir, so i,o 'rariecai b. .;o th re. Oniwda has d ve!op>-<' hor p iv/jniy ii.dußtiiw<, fcu« h*r second a-y indusii M «i"o u jescat.d, lohviiy an im..> we a as .-n ! of fa- >de i->> i. .AubLi ul.rt o iti looia

advanced, while Soutu At'ue.i's has not commenced. 'len years ago the Motherland might have approached the Colonies with greater effect than now, and in 20 years hence it will be too late. The Motherland might now eay :--Do not increase your tariff against us, but decrease it, t.nd where duties are unnecessary the success of your industrial policy is to let the Motherland supply ouanv things you do ! not ffinke. We might offer the colonies preference, relying on the patriotism and affection of our kinsmen that the; Motherland would not be the losur. If j the opportunity is not taken now, it will never recur. This was the pav- j ing of the way. If not taken, Canada will fall to the level of the United States, and Australia and South Africa will follow. lam convinced '"hat in return for a very moderate preference, the colonies will give us substantial advantages.