BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 16 November 1907, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

< —• —• OPPOSITIONISTS IK CONFERENC TWO. TKe: sand delegates ; PRESENT. UGH'BiNG PROGRAMME ADO PT E FISCAL REFORM IN THE FORE FRONT. « Received Nov. 9.47 p. m . LondonSiovemlwr 15. Two thouund delegates amended tl Birmingham conference. >•

The Rt. Hon. Henry Chaplin I\ye, that the first constructive policy be fi3|k reform, broadening the basis of taxation safeguarding the great productive indus tiles from unfair competition, strength emng facUiUes. for negotiating in foreiin markets, establishing preferential ram mercial arrangements with the colonic* «d securing to British producers and *° rk y° further advantage over foreign competitors in colonial markets ® # 'f our "rote that he' thought tM resolution was summarised with perf«t accuracy. Much felicitv was ex!™*J regarding Jfis speech at the FCU!l.j° the Xational Lnion on 15th The conference condemned the Govern-

w«t's inaction in repressing disorde. In Irefatod. It was resolved that socialism mighi tat be combatted by tariff reform anc oid-age pensions. and sang " He ' a ' 1 POLICY SPEECH BY MR. BALFOCR. AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING. SYMPATHY WITH THE COLONIES. ENDORSEMENT OF CHAMBERLAINISM. THE REMEDY TOR SOCIALISM. Received Nov. 16, 0.1 a.in. ' London, Novemlter IS. Mr. Balfour addressed a gathering of three thousand five hundred at the Hippodrome, Birmingham, in connection ■with the conference. There was great enthusiasm. He urged unity, though it wit impossible to lay down in black and white what constituted party loyalty. He insisted that tariff reform was gainfag strength slowly here, rapidly there, •Bd continuously everywhere, because the citizens were becoming utterly discontented with the existing system. He always thought that the promotion of freetrade within the Empire was the most important of all our commercial interests. Until the recent conference he yd entertained doubts whether that policy was practicable when the eo-operation of a large, number of units w»» required, but it would be irrational to entertain such fears after what occurred at the conference. He wag astonished at the complacency of the Ministerial reference to the debates at the conferences, and personally thought that Ministers cut a verv poor figure. At the beginning of 1907 the temper of the self-governing colonies was such that the British Government might eaiQy have concluded an arrangement enormously providing for Imperial intereommunication in commerce. Even if the British Government was unable to do much, it might at least have expressed sympathy, going as far as re▼enne needs permitted. The opportunity Md been wantonly and recklessly thrown away. We have now no right, continued Mr. Balfour, to complain if the colonies pursue a commercial policy wherein the Interests of the Motherland have no jimce at all. If the Unionist** were installed in oOee to-morrow they would first again summon the conference so hastily dissolred, and open the door so rashly ckaed, and see if they could not do - .aoesetUng toward* the great ideal of

which every responsible •omial statesman shaVed, with which tbe late Imperial fiovstenent sympathised, and which Mr. Chamberlain had done so much for. (Cheers.) He heartily subscribed to the fi~~al resolution the conference had carried with acclamation. Any fiscal changes the party might adopt would embody a comprehensive scheme equally advancing all the four great propositions contained in the resolution. He declined to go into detail-*, and declined to exclude from this alteration of taxation any article of imports 4ucpt raw material. Also, he said, any -tax imposed must not augment the proportion paid by the working man. He admitted that the growth of sorts Ham was a disquietening phenomenon, wkfcfc, If successful, would be absolutely I niaotu to the Whole community- That Movement could best be met by a con•tmetiTe policy of wide social reforms, tat H wag impossible to execute such a policy on the present basis of taxation. Mr Austin Chamberlain aaid after audi a speech, it was not Mr Balfoni's fault if the party was not able to pull together. 1 PBKMIEE TWITS MR 'BALFOUR. London, November 14. Br H. OunpbeU'Baimennan, speaking Bt the Colatow banquet at Liverpool, twitted Mr Balfour with going to Birmingham to make his submission, just m • (Rater potentate had gone to Cay*-... supposed the Leader of the Opposition had at last discarded his jwWi and hesitation and meant to Mm out as an honest protectionist. Kven if the Unionists won the general election, they would be unable to carry tariff reform straight away, since thev W »» coherent practical scheme ready. It would, he M 4, be unwise for the Liberals to declare that they were unable to carry social reforms until the free trade question was out of the wav. By including such reforms in their genual eonstructire programme (hey would best hasten the triumph. With protection, he added, the priviIsgs given to one authority would be BhlmeJ by another and another, until menu* would be forgotten in the (enable for trade advantages. The dragon of socialism, he said, was feot new. Property would be in no danger if the spirit of justice and liberty waa abroad and a ch«k was placed on Ike arraganee of wealth in time. the tariff question to the front of