THE UNIONIST PARTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8046, 9 February 1906, Page 3

THE UNIONIST PARTY.

FREE-FOODERS AND TARIFF REFORMERS. THERE NEED BE NO SI'LIT. IMPORTANT PRONOI'NCEMENT BY MK CHAMBERLAIN. NOT AFTER THE LEADERSHIP. Received 8, !).7 p.m. Loxnox, February S. Mr Chamberlain has written lo Viscount Hidley, a Tariff Reformer, rcpudiating under any eircunistnnccs being a candidate for the Unionist leadership; firstly because of his close friendship with Mr Balfour; and secondly because he agreed that the leader of a party, seven-tenths of which were Conservatives, ought to be a Conservative. It was uutruc that any ultimatum had been presented to Mr Balfour. He ouly desired the parly to meet frankly and discuss the future policy.

Different sections held three views regarding tariff reform. Those desiring, it droppiug it for the present as an active policy, forgot that if the question were shelved, all enthusiasm aroused I would be dumped ami the work of educating the counlry stopped. Such a! position would be inconsistent witli Mr Balfour's statement that tariff reform was the first item in the construe-; tive policy of the Unionists, and a commercial union with the colonies the inoit important and urgent branch of tarill reform.

The second suggestion, thai while impressing tariff reform at present, the Unionists should unite on the basis of the " Ir.il f sheet of notepapcr programme ," did not recognise thut ad»anccd tariff reformers thought the party ought frankly to admit the probability of having to -jlaee a moderate July on foreign corn, in return for substantial colonial preference to British manufacturers.

Mr Balfour, while not objecting to the principle of such a duty, yet did not protest at the Free Fooders' statement • that under no circumstances would they assent lo a duly on corn. . The tariff reformers also believed that the effective of retaliation was impossible without a general tariff. Mr Chamberlain denied any attempt lo exclude from the parly all who declined to accept the whole programme of the Tariff Kcforui League. .QUESTION' MUST BE KEPT ALIVE. lieceived 8, 10.3(5 p.m. London, February 8. Mir Chamberlain continued: The dishonest pretend that the free-fooders arc iu the same boat as the uiriff rey formers and rctalialors. Personally he believes (he great majority of Unionists were perfectly ready to accept Mr Balfour's general leadership, and probably the majority would welcome a declaration from Mr Balfour clearly showing that tariff reform was not to be dropped, indicating a definite and unmistakable programme for the future, which he and all would Jje able to heartily support. I If the majority of the party favoured | the views of the free fooders, or desired I the whole question left in abeyance. the tariff reformers must consider their position, without separating from ihe Parly or the general leadership. They might very properly constitute *" a parliamentary group, taking advantage of all opportunities of enforcing their views on the House of Commons and the country. "The tariff reformers," continued Chamberlain, " cannot put aside their principles to suit the exigencies of parly wire-pullers, and while ready to work with their Unionist colleagues for common objects, they cannot accept a policy of inaction and mystification regarding the main objects of their iiolitica! life." He was honestly convinced that iu the acceptaucc of a full measure of tariff reform, lies at least the hopes of the future sucec«s of the parly and the -«- cause.