THE FISCAL QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 255, 1 November 1904, Page 2

THE FISCAL QUESTION.

LORD ROSEBEBY ON COLONIAL PREFERENCE. STRONG DENUNCIATION. (Received Nov. 1, 1.3 a 111 ) r ~ . LONDON, Oct. 81. Lord Rosefcery, in his speech at Irowbndgc, regarded Canada's preference, which was' offered not as bartor but as a matter of grace in favour of loyalty, and other similar offers i n the form of gifts and concessions from the colonies, an acknowledgment of the Motherland's enormous burden in national representation and national defence. Mr Chamberlain's proposals were moving in a vicious circle. Colonial, and especially Canadian, competition in wheat wasi a menace to Britain's agricultural interests. If the Tariff League tried to arrange a treaty with Canada it would encounter many difficulties. If Canadian wheat received preference Australian was entitled to it in a groator degree, owing to the extr a distance to be travelled. lie charged Mr Chamberlain with advocating a policy the eßecf. of which would possibly be as disastrous as a gi*eat war. In attempting to roughly, rudelv, and inconsiderately change the basis of the Empire Mr Chamberlain was offering to sacrifice llritain'q fiscal independence to an illusory and fantastic idea. He was setting the Labour Party in Australia and Trade Unionists in the Motherland by the ems, and he was offering a one-aided scheme of preference without consulting tho country.