THE FISCAL QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 250, 14 December 1903, Page 2

THE FISCAL QUESTION.

BRITAIN'S WOLLEN TRADE. LONDON, Dec. 11. The Right Hon. Austt-n Chamberlain, Chancellor of the ExcbeqMer, speaking at Halifax, said that personully he believed that further development of the Government's commercial policy would strengthen the bonds uniting the Motherland and the colonies, which were already our lwst customers. He added that in the fact that bis father's proposals were not original lay their strength. . Mr A»quith, speakingi at Bradford, said the decline in the value of exported woollens was largely due to a decl'ine of 50 per cent. In the price of raw wool. He admitted that there were dangers ahead, but protection would aggravate such dangers.

Mr Whit taker, M.P. for Spen Valley Division of Yorkshire, addressing the Yorkshire Liberal Federation, said there were plenty of American and German manufacturers settled in England, instancing lh|' Singterp, sewing Llacfriiniste. Wes-t'inghouse, of railway brake feme, and Siemens, electrician. Sir J. T. Woodhouse, Liberal M.P. for Huddei-stield, denied that the woollen industry was decaying, and declared that Bradford's exporta had doubled in 25 years.

One thousand of the Yorkshire I#k eral Federation delegates, at ft. meeting at Bradford, condemned retaHialifcm and protection. The Rijght Hon. Asquith, formerly Liberal Homo Secretary, Held there was not a scrap of originality in Mr Chamberlain's programme. It was the latest phenomenon of a progressive Balfourlte, regarding Mr Balfour as a regrettable though convenient' stepping-stone. He added that trade in Bradford had stoadi.y improved since 1872. During tft» post 20 years Britain's consumption of raw wool had increased by onehalf.