THE FISCAL QUESTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue XXXXV, 9 December 1903, Page 3

THE FISCAL QUESTION

THE CONTROVERSY IN ENGLAND. LONDON, Dec. 7. JiOi'il Lytton, .in a letter declining to subscribe to the Middlesex Conservative Unionists Association, declares that Mr Balfour represents himself as a free traider, but wishes it to be understood that be is in complete agreement with Mr Chamberlain. The latter 'is exerting' himself to the utmost to arouse the protectionist appeiite of the country, ami he (Loud [Alton) hwd little doubt that when the party's education was completed its policy would be Air Chamberlain's. He added :

" To l I he. polict L am (h/mly oppised ; therefore I am unable to support it in any way." The Dirmingiham Trades Council, after a heated 'discussion, by a very largv majority adopted a resolution in favour of free trade, hut declared that the time bad arrived "to de(hie our position as a manufacturing nation," and that the workers ought not to be misled by the cry of high wiages and old age pensions in return for protective tarill's. Mr Reynolds, representative of the Plasterer's Society, who was the mover of the resolution, declared that Mr Chamberlain was amxious for the Motherland to join in with the colonies because all, except perhaps. Western Australia, were in a condition of bankruptcy. He added "I would as soon bargain with America as the colonies, which srtmply study self-interest. I hasve seen greater depression and more unemployed in Australia than in Britain. I believe Australia is on the verge of bankI'U'ptcy, which can only be averted by English help." Lord Crewe, speaking at Hull, said that if duties were imposed on Russia's and Germany's goods, they would take an early opportunity of diverting the herring trade to the Scandinavians.

Lord Tweedmouth declared that we had built in recent years twofifths of the world's tonnage for ourselves and one-fifth of the remainder for foreigners. This was due to free trade. Free ports had made our mercantile marine what it is. As regards the unemployed the lowest point reached in France was eight per cent, and the highest fifteen per cent., as compared with two and five per cent, respectively in England.

The Parliamentary Committee on co-operative societies has issued a circular in which it 'declares : " Now that Mr Chamberlain's proposals are before the country, our efforts to resist them ought to be more strenuous and vigorous than ever. Cooperators distribute six millions sterling worth, of flour and other articles affected by the corn tax, and aw societies produce throe millions worth of flour. The proposals, at a fair estimate; will add half a milto the purchasers' costs. We distribute up to sewn and- a half millions worth o!' dairy produce, and the proposals will impose an additional £:?00,000 taxation, and also £200,000 on co-operative meat." POTTERY WORKS TRANSFERRED TO GERMANY. Received 8, 10.20 p.m.

.LONDON, Dec. 8. Twyfoixl's, I limited, and Johnson Bros.. Limited, two of the largest Staffordshire pottery firms, are opening works in Germany. Mr Twyford explains that the firm's travellers asserted it was useless to visit protective countries. By starting protective works in Germany they would be able to compete against Germany and America, besides sMppi'Tig to/ England.