MR BAI FOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 232, 5 October 1904, Page 2

MR BAI FOUR.

(United Press Association.—By Elm< trie Telegraph.—Copyright.)

SPEECH ON THE POSITION IN ' 4 iJKITALN. A TOUOHJNU liEKEBENCE, (Heceived Oct. 4, 10.16 p.m}' LONDON, Oct. 4. Mr Balfour, speaking at tho Scottish Conservatives' dinner, in hkllnburgh, paiid a gtaceiui tribute to Uie -- , lute Sii* William Harcourt, remarking that lie was a hard fighter whose thrusts never poisoned. Th# Premier added : " All must recognise that the pulilic men of Great tlrituin ure tho property of no apodal party." He dealt iioxt with Mr Redmond's boost that the Nationalists were destined to hold the balance of power and exact their own terms. Mr Ualiour stolid!"|A» fur ad I and my colleagues anil party ore concerned, no such bargaining can over take place. They may moke what propositions they like,- and make what terms they choose with tha Liberals; but we are not f o r sale." This statement was received With cheers,

Regarding the fiscal question, the Premier said tho Opposition had dissected Ministerial s|>ecches In order to show they were less in agreement than thoy ought to be on tho policy which was to take effect after the next general election. Such heresy was amusing, but waste of time.

Mr Balfour said ho saw nothing to cause him to alter the policy ho had outlined at Sheffield. He still considered it sound, logiqai, self-con-taintd, whole and defensible in itself. There was no carrying of seeds in development In any direction that a Protectionist or Free Trader might hope for or fear. "Protection alius ut supporting or creating home industries l>y raising the homo prices 0 t these, and does nol aim at industries that cannot be encouraged. II industries are encouraged it is by rais- , ingpnices." He added that indivl- *T dually he w u s not a Protectionist, and personally he hold the opinio* tliat for Britain, in existing circumstances, Protection was not the best policy, and not one he would ever command directly or indirectly to his colleagues in tho Cabinet or to the country. It was. a policy he did not believe expedient, and although Protection was an admirable doctrine in the Conservative party, .and he never thought of diminishing tho zeal and earnestness of his support of tho Unionist party, If it took up the I Protectionist line he did not think ho could advantageously be Its leader ; but tho greatest interest they had to consider was the Imperial interest. They must take it out of the region of platform controversy. Surely, he said, it was wrong to use, voluntarily or involuntarily, Imperial sentiments as they exist In the self-go-verning colonies as counters in a game, throwing them from one plat* form to another ! Tliey heard contradictory statements regarding: tile colonies' wishes. He firmly believed tliat Canada, Australia, New Zenland and the Cape .desired closer union. Lord Roeobery thought there was no indication in this, Whether " Loid Rosebery was wrong ox Mr Chamberlain's estimate of colonial opinion right-"Whether I, who in this respect entirely agree with Mr Chamberlain am '''»ht or wrong, the only way out is impasse and dangerous to the Empire. Lot us have a • free conference with the self-govenv-ngcolonties and India, and determine first whether we desire an arrangement, and, second, whether it is possible or not."