THE "HALF-SHEET OF NOTEPAPER" PROGRAMME.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7960, 10 February 1906, Page 5

THE "HALF-SHEET OF NOTEPAPER" PROGRAMME.

The "half sheet of notepaper programme," referred to by Mr Chamberlain, of which mention was made in a cable published in yesterday's issue, was the* outcome of a challenge made to Mr .Balfour by Mr Morley. On. the. notepaper Mr Balfour placed the essence and outline of his views on Fiscal Reform thus: —"'First, I desire suoh. an alteration of our fiscal system as will give us a freedom cf action impossible while we hold ourselves bound by the maxim that no taxation should be imposed for revenue. I desire this freedom in the main for three reasons. It will strengthen our hands in any negotiations by which we may hope to lower foreign hoa- N tile • tariffs. It may enable us to protect the fiscal independence of those colonies which desire to give us preferential treatment. It may be useful where we wish to'oheck ttie importation of v those foreign goods which, beoause they are bounty-fed or tariff-protected abroad, are sold below cost price here. Such importations are ultimately as injurious to the consumer as they are immediately ruinous to the produoer. Secondly, I desire closer commercial union with the colonics, -and I do so beoause i desire closer UDion in all its best modes, and • beoause this particular mode is intrinsically of greater importance, and ha« received much colonial support. J also think it might produce great and growing commercial advantages, both to the colonies and the Mother Country, by promoting freer trade between them. No doubt such commercial union is beset with many difficulties. Those can best be dealt with by a colonial conference, provided ifa objects are permitted to be disoussed unhampered by limiting instructions. Thirdly, I recommend, therefore, that the subject shall be' referred to a conference, on those terms. Fourthly, and lastly, I do not desire to raise home prices for the purpose of aiding home productions."

T n a lecture on the bousing problem in Edinburgh, MrC. E. Price, of that city, stated that in St. Jamo9' Street, one tenement cou taiuerl 57 dwelliug-houses, witb a population of 231 persons, being at the rate of 618 acula per acre. A fireman'named John llonnelly, 24 years of age, a single man, was killed by a fall from an engine near Henderson (Auckland), yesterday mornine. He was looking over the side of the engine when be overbalanced, striking his head against the buttress of a bridge, falling twenty feet. Di.atb was instantaneous. Are you goino; away for a holiday ? P so place your luggage ii the care of J. J. Qurtis and Co., Ltd. They will call fo: it, see that it is safely and carefully coaveyei to its destination, and deliver it promptly. Charges are very moderate. Write for further particulars to J. J. CartU and Co. Ltd., Forwarding, Shipping, and Custombouse Agents, Wellington.—Advt HIS EXPERIENCE. Mr A.T. Be*le, of Beale Br s-, Oakey, (Q.), says: "I can recommend Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy to all troubled with diarrheal orbowelcomplaints, fori have used it for these complaints myself and was cured. Have persuaded my friends to give it a trial, and in every instance a cure was effected." For Bal« by T. Q. Mason, Mastarton—advt.