THE FISCAL ISSUE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 188, 4 May 1908, Page 7

THE FISCAL ISSUE.

LIBERAL UNREST. VIEWS ON THE BRUNNER SPEECH. " SPECTATOR " DISMAYED. BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIOHI (Rec. May 3, 4.40 p.m.) London, May 2. A sensation'has been caused by the'speech delivered by Sir, John Brunner (Liberal member for Northwich division of Cheshire, and chairman of Brunner, Mond and. Co.), who, while presiding at a'meeting of tho Liberal party in London, advised tho Government to abandon the Manchester policy of laissezfaire. (The Tory party, said Sir John, had absolutely convinced the mercantile community that they meant to make a big effort for the benefit of trade when they regained power. Ho advised the Government to adopt a liberal, sane, wholesome, and sound trade policy, because when bad times came the mercantile community would accept tho offer from the other side,' if tho Liberals made none.) The "Daily News" (Liberal) interprets, tho speech as an appeal for improvement in tho port of London) reform ,of railway administration, revival of the canal system, and tho introduction of such measures as Mr. Lloyd-Georgo's Patents Act, which compels tho holder of 'a British patent to manufacture: tho patented artiolo within the country. Tho " Daily Chronicle " (Liberal) says that Mr. Lloyd-George has already forestalled Sir John Bmnner. Anyway, tho assistance of trade by Government action is one thing, protection in the fiscal sense is another. The " Spectator " (Unionist and free trade) is dismayed to find a very prominent and typical Liberal liko Sir John Brunner, whilo presiding at a party meeting, advocating the shibboleths of '.the tariff reformers without the slightest protest being made. 1