CABLE NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 217, 9 October 1903, Page 2

CABLE NEWS

FISCAL REFORrfI,

BY KLBOTUW Ttt.HORAPH—OOPIBIP9I,

MR OHAMBKKbAIN'S SPKKOH. i UMPIRE BKLF-SUPPOHTING IF COYSOU DATED. MO SACRIFICE NECESSARY. 'COMMERCIAL UNION AND BBCIPBO< OAL THICKER! NUK. 'AXATION OF FOREIGN FOODSTUFFS. I'.BMISSION OF DOTY ON OOLONUL PKOUUOTS. OUTLINKS OF THE SCHEME. THE HUPKRiTITION OF INKPT I'KXJUDIOE. AN OBJECT WESSON IN FIGURES. PKB PHEHS ASSOCIATION. Londox, October 7. Mr Chamberlain, continuing, said: " Sir Henry Campbell-Bannnrman may ■mt<ider thut a squalid argument, but F, as a business man, do not despise colonial trade, which some of my opponents regard with such contempt and grievous ignoranoe. I also appeal to something h gber—your interest! in ho greatest Empire ia tbe world,, vhich, with decnt organiiation and consolidation, would beoome self-sup* porting. Every necessity, every luxury* is produoible within the' Empire. Remember how, recently, our distant kin*, men rushed to our aid, affording; valuable material and moral asristano*. That is the result of the Empin's glorious inheritance, At tbe ooet of mueh and treasure, tbe first work of the present generation was tobuild fitmly and permanently the great: edifice which others had founded. We must either draw closer the sister 1 States or drift apart." Although iw would not hesitate to a«k his countrymen to make a saorifioe to maintain the Empire, he believed it was unnecessary. An arrangement could be made to benefit all concerned. Only by commercial union and reoiprooal preference oi«n you, he said, " lay til* foundations of an Empire, we look to. as a brilliant possibility." "It would be futile to offer the Monies preference for their manufaotares.. Wo cannot give preference on raw , material, nor do I propoae It. You | must put a tax on food. In broad outline, I propjss a duty of 2s 7d per quarter on foreign corn; no duty on corn from British possessions, and no ' dusy on maiz); a corresponding tax on foreign flour, 5 per oent. doty on 1 foreign meat and dairy produce (exoepfc

1 oacon), a substantial preferanoa to colonial wines, and perhaps fruita, * remission of three quarters of the daty on tea, half of that on sugar, with ft 1 corresponding reduction on ooffee and ' cocoa. The new duties would eost th» agricultural labourer sixteen and a half 1 farthings per week, the artisan nineteen and farthings, but the remissions would be equivalent, even if 1 the whole taxes wpra paid by the 000-1 1 sumers instead of by foreigners. It if Mstianted the exchequer would lost .£2 800,000 a yo&r." Ha proposed to recover it by means of a 10 per cent, tax on foreign manufactures, yielding nine millions, and enabling a further reduction on food, and other taxes. H*' was confident the colonies would neete / us in no spirit of selfishness. As * missionary Empire, ha implorad then to do nothing to disintegrate the Empire, not .to refuse to sacrifice a futil# superstition of inept prejudioe, thereby losing-the results of centuries noble effort and patriotic endeavour, (Wildly enthusiastic applause.) In 1872, we sent to the prateotaft countries of Kurope and the Unfai States 116 million pounds worth of manufactures, in 1882 eigtty-eighft millions, in 1892 seventy-tiufe» and • half millions, a'decline of 422 miin«— in 30 years. There vas a further de-

oline o! three and a half million to neutral countries like Egypt, China* South Amerioa. While in the United Kingdom trade was stagnant and ite oharacter changed, and while trade with foreigners bad declined 46 millions) that with British possessions hH increased by 40 millions. The present trade with the colonies and other British possession* w.»h larger and more 1 valuable, and the moa- rapidly increasing section of tu • oitnmeroe. Tbajr will reserve us the ir*d« wa already enjoy, and not arrange f «ri& In futur# 1 in order to start indtucries to oo—into competition with ours. They will not allyw their present industries to ha inj uwd, but f outside of that, there remains a great margin we could pn> maneqtly retain. If the trade is Six ' valuable eleven ihilUon ooloniifce, what will it be worth whan the population is forty millions. The oolooica would certainly give the motherland preference to all trade now done with foreigners, amounting to. 47 millions. Of that amount 26 millions might oome to Britain if reasonable preference were accorded. Present protective colonial trade would give employment to 760,000 British workmen, providing subsiata&M for four million persons. AN ORATORICAL TRIUMPH. FBEBS COMMENTS OS TUB FBOPOdALB. London, Oatober 7. Mr Chamberlain spoke for nearly two hours. . A gale greatly delayed the telegraphic reports of the speech. There is a consensus of opinion that the sp, ech was a great oratorical triumph. The Timet says it was an excellent b^BKninsr. T<e ' tmd'ird remarks that muoh of Mr ' 'h .mil • hiuV ground is untenable, a- d m my of his promises hypothetical aud unp ove l, Th-i Daily Xeuis thinks the prfefclft. ences propose! areinmlfi iientto 'empfc th« colonxs, a<id thit a campaign of p*»sion w uld be » p ril o the Empire. The Morning Post thinks the proposals form a cheap, simple sohem* securing the end in view, The Chronicle is of opinion that the scheme is vague, and that it is a Hwless threat to suggest that the mlnnfat would separate without preference. The Daily Mail favours protection of manufacturing industries until foreign tariffs aredrastioally altered. MR CHAMBERLAIN AT GRIKNOGK. AHOTHBR FORCEFUL SPEXOH. URGENCY FOR OOLONIAL PRBFBRBNUB. Reoelved 8, 10 p.m. London, October 8. At Greenock Mr Chamberlain ad* dressed 3500 persona amidst great enthusiasm. He stated thatprefenoM to the colonies was the most "-strl branoh of the problem. It waa lmpasibli * play fat and loqm wtyl

kinsmen who, in a spirit of brotherhood, and with an uuselfiah desiie to promote the interests of the Empire, had made us an offer, balieving ibat mutual coccession would secure an arrangement beneficial to the Mother land and the colonies. They would sot complain if the offer was not accepted, but would perhaps trarsfer the advantage to other countries less hampered with prejudices and superstitions. Ha justified retaliation on the ground- of the alrered conditions of trade. It was impossible to believe that the Americans and French were all fools because they did not adopt Oobdenißm. WHAT FOREIGN NATIONS ARE DOIS'G A QUESTION TO FREE TRADERS. BACBIBIOES NECESSARY FOB COMMON GOOD. ENTHUSIASTIC VOTE OF OONFIDENOE Received 9,1.11 a.m. London, October 8. Mr Chamberlain, continuing his address at Greenock, said that the Oootinental tariff had been utilised to create and retain their home markets, thus excluding British goodr, under the belief that it was essential to their prosperity. The result was that our •zports were falling and theirs increasing. " I dislike," said Mr Uhamberlain, " being trampled on, and like to hit hack. If other nations refuse free exchange, then I am no free tr-der at any price." At present, he said, Britain was doubly injured by whacking tariffs and the slam of the foreign doors in our face, while onr home markets were aucceaefolly invaded, thus seriously threatening the position of British manufacturers and workmen.

The free importers must explain why, if Retaliation or protection is so ruinous,'all the great nations adopting it had prospered more than Britain. If they are able to answer that question then my occupation is gone.

The policy which had proved so successful in commerce will be more so when applied to a larger Empire with mxty million whites and three hundred and fifty million of the coloured races. We ought to be prepared to concede all that is reasonably asked in order to promote closer union with the Colonies which are rapidly growing into vigorous manhood. The rejection of their offer may do an irreparable if jury."With their support we should not be afraid of splendid isolation. 'We must expect to make sacrifices in order tosecore the common good. Now was the opportunity for renewing our youth and continuing the power and glory of the Empire for generations." The meeting enthusiastically passed a resolution of the fulleßt confidence in the Government, and that it w«a necessary to reconsider the fiscal policy, owing to foreign restrictions' in order to consolidate and develop the Xmpire.

FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION CREATED. Received 9, 1.3 a.m. London, October 8. The Daily Telegraph says there i 6 an overwhelming consensus of opinion in the city in Favour of Mr Chamberlain. The Times Bays the general impreerion is decidedly favourable. The Standard hopes that before Britain makes further snbstantial concessions to Imperial sentiment it will scan the results of placing colonial securities among trustee stock. Mr Barridgq, Liberal, oppposes Hon. A. Lyttelton when he goes for reelection. The Canadian newspapers emphatically favour Mr Chamberlain's policy. The German press is incredulous as to its practicability. Sir H. Oampbell-Binnerman, writing to Mr Erskine, the candidate for "West Perthshire, says the Ministry baa unmasked their policy of unalloyed protection.