THE FISCAL QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 267, 28 December 1903, Page 3

THE FISCAL QUESTION.

LONDON, Dec. 23. The Right Hon. Herbert Gladstone (speaking at Birkenhead) .said the tariff reformers were spending money like water. He would like to know whence the money came, under what conditions it was given, and what the donors' expectations were. He did not want any Tammany business in English public life. The tariff 'reformers claimed that Chamberlain was a business man. Mr Hooley was a man of business, but his miscalculations paled before Mr Chamberlain's over the war, and the country would not accept the present nostrums. The whole question rested on Mr Chamberlain's shoulders. Without him the Liberal party v, a* like an engine with a boiler burst? The Libeials were going to fight for freetrade, which mado the coimtiy antl they would fight to a finish. The Liverpool branch of the L'nionost Free Food League condemned the tariff taxation as protection Messrs A. Taylor and ATcArthur. Commoners, upheld a continued policy of free trade, and strongly condemned Mr Chamberlain. The Congress of Liberal Unionists in the north-eastern counties and Lancashire overwhelmingly favour Mr Chamlberlain. LONDON, Dec. 24. Manchester merchants, manufacturers and shippcis, at a representative meeting, formed a non-party association in defence of the kingdom's free trade policy, and also to promote the education of the country on trade questions, urging electors to vote only for free trade candidates,