BRITAIN'S FISCAL POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 97, 13 April 1908, Page 2

BRITAIN'S FISCAL POLICY.

LORD CUKZuVS SPEECH. A.N APPEAL FOR PREFERENCE. Loudon, April 10, Lord (Jurzon, al his Uasingstuke nieeti"ci Led that ludiu might conceivably suffer inure from the retaliation of foreign nations than she could gain from Britain s preference. It was, however, to our interest that her interests should not be sacrificed in any coming change. Her revenue tarill' was so lucrative and useful that 110 party in India would consent to part with So useful a menus oi negotiation. It had been used more than once to threaten reprisals on foreign nations. /The Liberal Government

liad events in train to disturb many things in India, but it had not shown any tendency to upset the tarill' in India. Such a tariff must and ought to come in Lngland. Radicals were driving them to adopt it in the future, whiiejll the Unionists must redeem from toe Liberal Party, acting us wet nurse to Britain's offspring whom the Liberals affected to repudiate and disown, "If we got such a tariff for revenue purposes," lie added, "I cannot for the life of me see why we should not get a tariff—after consultation with the colonial Governments—for strengthening the ties of Imperial connection, and also utilise it to improve trade and secure better employment for workers. " W liatever we do let us not atfopt proscription! We are unable to afford to estrange sucli men as Lord Salisbury's two sons. That would be unthinkable. Our policy should be one of reconciliation, not reprisals."

LORD CURZON CRITICISED. v. BROADENING BASIS OF TAXATfON. Received April 12, 7.40 p.m. " " London, April 11. The Daily News says that. Lord Curz--011 stands for a large modification of the fiscal system. "If Curzonisin," it says, " is not exactly Balfourism to-day, the chances are that Balfourism will be C'urzonisni to-morrow. Curzonism is not protection or retaliation; it is a specious proposal to broaden the basis of taxa* tion for revenue purposes only, to keep Free Traders within .-the Conservative party, to relieve the wealthy from direct taxation, and to provide funds for social reform," The Daily News protests against any broadening of the basis of taxation wliich raises the cost of living to the poor. ,