GREAT POLITICAL STRUGGLE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 197, 24 September 1909, Page 2

GREAT POLITICAL STRUGGLE

THE BRITISH BUDGET. MR. BALFOUR ADDRESSES A HUGE * MEETING, -v -~. MR. UIAMBERLAIN'S MESSAGE. TEE FISCAL POLICY. THE NEED FOR REVISION. MEETING ITHE COLONIES. Received September 23, IU.3U p.ni. London, September 23. Mr. Balfour (Leader of the Opposition) before commencing his speech at ilingley Hall, Birmingham, read a letter from Mr. Joseph Chamberlain. The speaker declared that the letter showed Mr. Chamberlain was able to give them his matured thought on the great political crisis. The letter was as lollows:

The view that the Budget is a poor man's Budget is fanatic. If we could abolish poverty by abolishing riches the social reformers' tusk would be easy. Any fool can destroy wealth. Mr. Asquith 'has initiated the doctrines which carry by implication the whole socialistic creed. The Budget is not a continuation of the traditions of the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the last 110 years. It masquerades m old clothes, but they don't lit. If you want to know what the bulk of supporters of the Budget are thinking don't go to Mr. Asquith or to those he intended to placate last

Jriday evening, but go to the 1 candid utterances of his more important colleagues'. Mr. Asquith's version of the Budget is intended for drawing-room use. It is very different to that given by the street corner orator or of his bustling colleagues.

Received September 23, 11.10 p.m. London, September 23. Ten thousand were present ut the meeting, including 2300 representatives of the Unionist and Conservative Associations of the Midlands. There were fifty thousand applications for admission. Peers, Commoners and candidates filled the platform. Many Indies were present.

INDESCRIBABLE ENTHUSIASM. A scene of indescribable enthusiasm took place when Mr. Balfour entered with-Mrs. Chamberlain. Jt was renewed when Mr. Austen Chamberlain read the message from his father. Mr. Balfour said: "1 hone the Lords will sw their way to force a general election, and I don't doubt what the answer will be. Mr. Asquith seeks to represent the Budget as an advantage to the working men. 1 cannot take this view of the Budget. The last effort of free trade finances is to find u substitute for

TARIFF REFORM AND IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. The Budget is avowedly iuteuded to destroy the tariff, a form u.ul movement which 1 believe is a necessary remedy for the present want of employment. The Budget will supply us with money but deprive us of work. 1 herefore you have to choose between tariff reform, which assists trade, increases employment, and secures a fair contribution of revenue from foreigners using our markets, and the Budget, which casts fresh burdens on our trade, hampers our industries, and takes the commonest comforts from our people."

" SOCIALISTIC FOLLY." Mr. Balfour continued: "Socialistic folly cannot go further than it has in the' hands of the present Government. With regard to the land, the modern Radical Government says ' Let us abandon small land ownership and only give small lease of ownership.' That seems socialism gone mad. Security fs t\ie very essence of industrial success. You cannot confiscate property of A without making B tremble in his shoes. It was no use to pass philanthropic legislation if the poor were more injured by the manner in which you obtain the money.

CAPITAL'S MOItIUTY. Capital is mobile ami international. Capital is ready to move to America. Germany, or England if the holder gets interest. It matters little to the rich capitalist whether lie gets it liy giving employment in America., Britain or Germany.' Is it nit one to the workers of this''country? That is the problem you have to consider. I think it the root, the crucial point, and the essential knot of this controversy. What we want is business. The policy which gives business is the policy for the poor mm. The rich can laugh at any Chancellor of the Exchequer.

CHANGING THE FISCAL SYSTEM. "When at Birmingham two years ago I pointed out that owing to the progress of expenditure and the need of finding money it would bring home to every thinking man the necessity of the alteration of the iiseal system. That prophesy has come true. The old system has broken down. The fiscal machinery must be scrapped. It was intolerable that while America and Germany were allowed to forge weapons by which they were going to withdraw from our sphere of commercial influence, our own colonies, we should sit with folded arnia' hiding behind an antiquated formula and refuse to look the facts in the face."

MEETING THE COLONIES. Received 23, 11.53 pjm. London, September 23. Mr. Balfour proceeded: "I confess I look with amazement, jiot with contempt, upon those who with' perfect «quanimity face a situation which if nl. lowed to continue will build up great communities surrounded by their own tariff walls against which we will beat in vain and will see. tho colonies and dependencies of the Crown belonging tconomieally, industrially and financially to (some other commercial system than that of which we are the centre."