BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 28, 3 February 1904, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FJSCAL CONTROVERSY. LONDON, Feb. 1. A convention (it Manchester, representing ;!"i,(iiki Conservative working men, iiikl .'-ixly-life L-uiicutfliire and l heslvirc towns, endorses Alessrs Ba> I'our's and Chamberlain's proposals. Air Unnklyn (Liberal Unionist) writing to Mr Balfour claims tliut Mr Jlurol'il (.'ox's uou-uccuptunce o£ his i-lmllenge to contest Central Bradford is equivalent to allowing him a walk over. MV Balfour replied that at least one general election would bo neceasnrv hei'ore anyone could be competent to pronounce confidently remanding tlie country's opinion on the fiscal problem. 'l")ie Tariff Commission has circularised a thousand factories and exists a million replies to questions, It is also circularising merchants, bankers, shippers, ami luibour associations. IU-plying to the circular the local jewellers' and silversmith*' association -nnil 87 Birmingham ilrnis state that the Australian tariff had hindcix<d tlie sale of goods. Fifteen stato that it hu«l not affected the sale, 78 consider tluit if Australia imposed a • higher 'duty on foreigners it would U-iielit Kivglish shippers, while 22 think no benefit has accrued. The American Bureau of Couunarc* states 'Hint Australia takes oneninth of America's exported boots and shoes. " Tllffl WORLD'S SEA CARRIER.'.! THE TITLE THREATENED. (Received Feb. 2, 9.47 }<. m.) LONDON, Fob. 2. The Liverpool Steamship Owners' Association has adopted a report dorlurmg that statesmen of all parties ivuli.M'd iimt the country's position an the world's sea carrier was threa-L-n.d, because shijMnviiiers were forced to conqvU- on unequal terms with loivigiiei-N even in the United Kingdom. Immediate legislation was imperative. The laws needing alterulion weiv now part of the country's Kvn-ernl (n*-al policy, and tariff relonnei'K ait J Freetraders alike con■demnod them. iJiI'KRIAL I'ARHAMFjNT. (Received Fob. 3, I.S a.m ) ... LONDON, Feb. 2 .King Rduand and (Juoen Alexandra "HI attend y,,, opci , ing „, Pftp „ a _ 1 ™t. in deference to his Majesty's desire m , |. lim . ast o! thc s hfr the 1-In-one is to be issutxl