Untitled

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 147, 18 December 1903, Page 5

CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—COPYRIGHT.] THE IMPERIAL FISCAL ISSUE.

SPEECH BY MR. CHAMBERLAIN. NOT ALARMED BY HIS OPPONENTS. A COMMISSION OP EXPERTS. [press *bsociation.l LONDON, 17th December. Mr. Chamberlain addressed four thousand persons, representing the unionist associations of Yorkshire, at the Coliseum ut Leeds, and an oveifiow meeting of three thousand woikmen at the Town Hull. He had enthusiastic receptions. REVISION REQUIRED. Mr. Chamberlain Baid : — "Neither the number nor the authority of my opponents alarms me. lam unublo to accopt Mr. Ritchie as a great financial authority because he haa been under the tuition of the Treasury officials for a few months." The speaker said free trade, like every other institution, required revision after sixty years, especially when protective coontrks were invading the British market. Almost all protectionist countries were increasing in prosperity more rapidly than Britain. It was nonsense to contend that protection would bo Britain's ruin. DUMPING AND ITS DANGERS. "I am a freetrader," he declared, "in the souse that all trade should be free. I do not deßire to bolster up rotten trades or support unnatural trades. At present freelrudo in not fair competition. I deny that the British workman is inclUutcnt. When Mr. Huldano hivb Cnurlottetiburg schools will cure dumping, I decline to sit at the feet of. miUi & Gamaliel. My assertion that our manufacturing trade with protected conntrie^ is decreasing while theirs is increasing cannot be disputed, nor thut our trade with British possessions is continually Uicrettolng. Even in the colonies dumping ii proceeding, endnugetiug our hope of further increasing the colonial trade." UOSEBERY'S "SOOTHING SYRUP," Mr. Chamberlain wont on to say thut he doubted if many of the statements which hiH opponents relied on to piove the unparalleled prosperity of the country could be accepted without limitations. Certainly they did not accord with Sir Henry Campbell-Banneiman'a statement thut there weie thirteon millions of tho populutiou on tho verge of hunger. Tho true test of prosperity was tho comparative number of poople in full employment nt'remunorative ratos, and official returns ihowed that employment was declining. Lord Rosebery's ''soothing syrup" would not satisfy worklesH people. Mr. Anquith challenged him in tho tone of a cross-oxaminer, mid Mr. Chamborluin, to show any trudo that hud been destroyed. Ho did not say any had been abnolutely destroyed, but he wns ablo to givo instances of scores of Uncles whkh have ceased to be great trades. Hundreds of mills had been dosed or diverted to different purposes. Ho instanced silkthrowers, tlax-spinners, leather tanneries, and woollen-workers. PROFITING BY OTHERS' KXPERIENCE. "When we find the cleverest peoplo In tho world ndopting a policy diftorent to our* and profiting thereby, ho said, "wo ought to abandon our coucoit and tako a leaf out of their experience." It was quite possible to mako a scientific tariff without adding burdens to the taxpayer, and whilo yet incidentally doing something to develop trade. The foreigner had diioovered a method of taxation which increased employment and mndo the nation more able to pay taxation. Why should they suppose thoir iciontific economists and manufacturers were unnble to do what every other country and colony had done, without experiencing the exaggerated difficulties that his opponents urged? A NON-POLITICAL COMMISSION. Tho Tariff Reform League was already forming a non-political commission of experts to consider the condition of trade and to suggest remedies. That commiseion would comprise leading representatives of every principal industry and every group of industries, representatives of trade in India, the Crown"- colonies, and the great autonomoxm colonies It would invito witnesses from overy* trade, and would enquire not only into the (special interests of each particular trade, but into the interest*) of allied trades. Then they might framo a model tariff. Opponents of the twriff-reformers were congratulating themselves that oven if the reformers gained a- mandate they would not bo prepared to act, since tho Government must devote two years to further enquiry, during which timo enthusiasm would cool, to thut tho mandate given by the country wouW. have no praotical retult. "But," said Hie speaker, "when the country gives it» mandate, if tho Government in power be prepared to accept our principles, wo reformers have ready a great part of the information dealing with the tariff upon which the country is Jikoly to express an opinion." THE COLONIES' OFFER. Since tho days of Cobdon, continued Mr. Chamberlain, there had been a.'remarkable ohange in the national appreciation of Imperial icloas. "Now no physical difficulty proven ts the federation of tho race. Our opponents allege that we suffer from foreign competition because wo are ho pmall, but wo possess an Empire greater in population und area ana in variety of products und potentialities for tho future than any. To achieve the desired union, requires a national, not a party, policy. Tho colonies havo given an opportunity to commence tp build . Thoy have shown a general desiro for reciprocal preference. They have made us an offer. It is not free trade-— I wish it werc-r-bub it is an approach to it. That in something. If we get this nearer approach to commercial reunion, why despair of getting more in time? It will bo. better to wake tho experiment, whatever bo the result." PREFERENCE AND THE COST OF LIVING. (Received December 18, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 17th December. Mr. Chamberlain, continuing his speech, waid : "I reiterate that prefeyenco to the colonies will not add to tho coat of living. Charles Booth, one of the greatest living authorities on everything touching the poor, supports me. Replying to my questions whether tho fiscal proposal* would add to the cost of living of the poorest, ho paid ; 'If earned out with reasonable prudence and oircumspeotion, your proposal* seem to me to bo likely to add to the national and imperial prosperity, I do" not think they will add to the cost of living.' " "Even if it did," added Mr. Chamberlain, "it would, not affect my opinion, oincß tho well-being of the poorer clussea depends much more on the general conditions of prosperity and fluctuations of employment than on ohnngos in the level of prioes. In spite of tho proof before their eyes our opponents suy there is no evidence of a colonial demand. That is really a monstrous misrepresentation. It is ohtldUh id want me to produae < after the indioa-

tion Ihe Colonial Conferences afforded of the desire of the colonies to negotiate with u», a cut-and-dried result. A COLONIAL AMBASSADOR. "If negotiations are needed, lot them wend me as antlwiMidor to the colonies with full power. I am perfectly willing to risk my reputation on being able, not merely to satisfy the colonies that wo have something to give worth their acceptance, bul also to Feuuro from tho colonies un e^ual measure, of return. Tho Hon. W. Fielding, Canadian Finance Minister, has just written mo that both the great political parties in the Dominion cordially endorse Mio position tho Canadian Ministers took at tho lust Colonial Conference with regard to Imperial piefercntiul trade. If the princjplo bi> approved the British and colonial public men might be trusted to overcome the difficulties and give tho project a practical form." FREE FOOD LEAGUE ATTACKED. (Received Decembor 18, 8.19 a.m.) LONDON, 17th December. Mr. Chamberlain scathingly attacked the Free Food League, who, he said, swallowed retaliation with wry facep and choking throats. They were willing to impose a duty provided it only injured the foreigner, but if designed to benefit their friends and brothers then their orthodoxy became rigid. ' They were Imperialists to tho core and backbone ; they invoke Imperialism in after-dinner platitudes, but are willing to hound from politics their colleagues and former friends who foeek to draw the Empire clober by doing something the colonies desire. The Free-fooders had been too long on an inclined plane ; they had now got to the bottom with Home-Rulers and Little-Enghnders whom they profess to oppose. "I wish them joy of their company," said Mr. Chamberlain. "Recent ovents havo shown tihat tho Duke of Devonshire's cncyclic.il did not possess pontifical authority ; thoy aro trying to frighten the country with an infinitesimal possibility of imperceptible sacrifice. Are we so mean us to accept the colonies' assistance in tha timo of trial, and then with a sneer tell them, when thoy want to move a step nearer to political union, that such bontiment will cost 118 a farthing on a four-pound loaf?" Mr. Chamberlain spoke for over two hours, and at the conclusion the meeting adopted a resolution in favour of his policy. DEMAND FOR SEATS. (Received December 18, 8.37 a.m.) LONDON, 17th December. There was a great influx at Leeds from all partsi of Yorkshire to hear Mr. Chamberlain epeak. "Many guineas were spent for ©eats