BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8045, 6 February 1906, Page 3

BRITISH ELECTIONS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS. UNITED FBEBS ASSOCIATION". —HY ELECTItIC TKLEOUAPJ!.— COrYIIIOJIT.

MR BALFOUR AND THE FISCAL QUESTION. UNWILLING TO CO FURTHER.

lieeeived l>, 12.51 a.m. LoM'OX, February 5. Mr Balfour is uuwilliug lo advance further in regard to the Fiscal question. He does not wish the Party to commit itself in regard to the details of the question. If the Party desired, he would cheerfully surrender the Leadership in favor of Mr Chamberlain, though he would not to some third person. Since the Tariff question for some time will occupy a small space in politics, he considers it l* unreasonable to ask him to go further.

It was unwise, in Mr Balfour's opinion, to rule out all who are unable to go as far as Mr Chamberlain. He was meeting the Party probably alter the speaker's election.

THE "TIMES" ON THE SITUATION. , A NEW PARTY EVOLVED. Received <>, 1- 51 a.m. Lo.nmjx, February 5. The •• Times " remarks If the party is then strongly in favor of Mr Chamberlain's policy, we cannot see how he can honorably decline the leadership. Mr Balfour's position, though weak from the popular standpoint, is .strong in view of the task immediately before the parly. Though Mr Balfour and Mr Chamberlain are unable lo arrive ill a Full iwlitieal agreement, Ihev remain friends. There is not the slightest idea of personal competition. M r Chamberlain wishes his scheme of tariff reform to be made a main' plank of the Unionist platform, and those not accepting should be no longer regarded as members of the parlv. If Mr Balfour accepts this, Mr Chamberlain will prove a loyal lieutenant. If Mr Balfour is unable lo modify his attitude, then Mr Chamberlain will form a wholly separate party of tariff reformers under his own leadership, who will act entirely independently, unacceptiiig the Opposition whips, but basing the whole ofl heir Parliamentary action on Tariff Reform. Mr Chamberlain, the "Times" adds, is willing to serve under Mr Long, who fully agrees with the Fiscal policy. AN APPOINTMENT. Lonhox, February I. Captaiu Norton, Ml'., has succeeded Mr Thomas as Junior Lord of the Treasury. (Captaiu Norton has sat lor New iugton West since 18112).