FISCAL REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 233, 29 October 1903, Page 3

FISCAL REFORM.

MR CHAMBERLAIN AT LIVERPOOL. A SPLENDID OVATION. LEGAL WIT AND IGNORANCE. "EMPLOYMENT" THE CIRCX OF THI WORKER'S PKOBLEM. Received 28,10 45 p.m. London, October 28, The Earl and Countess of Derby and many Lords and Commoners were present at Mr Oh* mberlain's address ai the Bippoiromp, Liverpool, under the ausp : ces of the Woikingmen's Conservative Association. He received a splendid ovation, and spoke for an hour and a half amidst growing marks of approval and outbursts of prolonged cheering.

I Mr Chamberlain opened by comparing the injury done to British trade by foreign dumping, to the injury done to email shops by gigantic emporiums by surplus Bales below cost price. He said bis wj 11 groundf d fear hcd been described as " dumpkobia " by a lawyer tryirg to be humorous abut the business, although he kn*w nothing whatever on the subject. It setmed a curiou3 thing to Mr Asquith, bnt not to us, that dumping occurs only when resorting to dumping in a state of depression. Sir Edward Grey at Alnwick had admitted that much might be faid for the idea of an Empire within which there were ro barriere, or which imposed duties on foreign goods only. Tbat, Baid Mr, Ohumberlain, "is my ideal, but as a practical statesman 1 know it cmcot be realised in a twinkling. If Pit E. Grey is unable to follow me it is because my proprsils are only a stepthough a great one—towards the ideal he and I s,h»re. The whole problem as it affects the workers is contained in the one word " employment." However important were eheap food and higher wages, if the workmen lost "mployment nothing couM compeLsate them for the loss." An interest ing thing which had escaped his attention was the fact that when free trsde was carried 'be workers were nei- her leprfsn'ed nor consulted, but the movement was a •rihnufac'urers' ond middle-class movement, and the leaders anticipited that wages would be maintained at a reasonable level. Received 29, 0.9 a.m. London, October 28. Mr Chamberlain continued : -The free trade movement was one to give cheap food, and if the labourer had cheap food it was considered he would be able to work for low wages, thus enabling employers to compete wirh foreigners. John Bright, in 1888, ' writing to a friend in America, declared that if Americans were protectionists they were compelled to give | higher wages and shorter hours. Mr Chamberlain said the leaders of free i trade, anyhow, believed that a big loaf meant lower wages. The Chartists ' •»ere entirely opposed to free trade, Jeseribing it es a red-herring across /he path of electoral reform; bu% thanks to Mr Bright, the workers were enfranchised, and as they have the majority of votes they can say " Yes " o the proposale, or crush them. " I have an idea," e»id Mr Chamberlain, " that the workers on this question are in advance of their leaders, and, if bo, we will win. The Cobden Club may rage furiouely in all tb» languages of the world, and the free fooders may imagine vain things, but we win. I appeal from the Trades Union Congress to you-against the officials to t,h» m n appointing them-These officials have circulated a manifesto through the Oobden Club, yet the Oobden Club declared Trades Unions were based on . brutal tyranny and monopoly." Received 29, 0 29 a.m. London, October 28. ' _ Mr. Chamberlain added that from ■ his standpoint it was quite impossible to reconcile free trado and trade unionism. Mr Keir Hardie , agreed with him, for Mr Hardie declared in the Commons that co Commoner supporting trade unionism could : be a consistent it es trader, and added that trades unionists do not, intend to allow BW-a'ing, or thn undnrpnid i»borers of coniine-rtvl nations to <:■■ nape e with them. "Is that, asked Mr Ch mWlain, you< opinion ? (/ ries of "Yes,'), then you wiil , be fiee • raders. You must conside', besides the cocsamer, the producer who is more important. The legitimata purposes of Trades Unionism are to secure higher wages consistent with the conditions of each trade, to raise the standard of living, prevent unfair ccmpetitijn, provide for tbe healh ai d safety of thu employed, and for the caiv of their fellows who are sufferirtß temporary illmss or misfortune. is to) late now to call me a heretic for declining to consider sacred the doctrines which my accusers bave long since abandoned. What is the use of p ohibWng sweating in E- gland if we allow sweated gßods to enter. The limitation of hours, and precautions for safely, add to the cost of production and increaEe the difficulties of selling, and uDlees manufacturers are given compensating advantages tbey will bo uiahle to comp.-te md yru will bo •> v '-ikl.-s«. O uj.t we calculate 'ho cos' I of preuiut.uns to Engi«,i!i ov. r an''. abowi similar prectution3 in other countries we shomd be justified, with out the infection of f/ee trade, in imposing a du'y corresputd.ng to tb.it cost.