BRITISH POLITIGS

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1413, 25 March 1905, Page 3

BRITISH POLITIGS

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

Bjs Eleotrlo Telegraph—Per Press 1 Association—Copyright. LONDON,. March 23. Mr Austen Chamberlain prefaced I-;.., -‘vuoiuneainent of the date of the -Sj with the words, “In the or- !_* course of things.’-’ stated that ho was ,o“tlc to publish a return relating systems of graduated 'dirTerentiat).,u colonial income tax, because New Zealand and some of tlio Australian States hais-toot furnished i>arbicul«irs- ■

ELECTIONEERING BPEECHE3. THE FISCAL QUESTION.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Bocoived 9.42 p.m., March 24. London, Maroh 24.

Mr Hill, late Chairman of the Greenwich Conservative Association, inquired whether the tariff reform action of the Greenwich Conservatives justified the selecting of a candidate opposed to -Lord Hugh Cecil. Mr Chamberlain replied that the majority of Unionists, whether of Greenwich or elsewhere,were both justified and required by their duty in a matter of so urgent importance to make every effort to be fully represented in the House of Com*

mong. The ' question now dividing | Unionists was not new, although it had j recently become one of practical politics, j The late JLiord Salisbury .on several oo- I casions had called serious attention to de- 1 facts of the present system, indicating I some form of retaliation ai the only J remedy. On one occasion he advooated I a policy of closer commercial union with I the colonies. The National Union Oon- I servative Association, exclusively aufcho- I; rised to speak conservative opinion, os a J 1 whole repeatedly and* strongly resolved to 1 favour Tariff reform. The Liberal I Unionist Federation of 1903 almost un- I j animously resolved to support fiscal re- 1 form, and an attempt to arrange with the j £ Colonies for an increased trade on a pre- I ferential basis. Instead of justifying a J refusal to abide by representatives of the j organisation and the decisions of the j minority, he advised friends not to sup- j port Unionist candidates following the J £ policy supported by the vast majority of I the Conservative Unionist party. Their M action, doubtless, was the result of con* I • soienUous motives,but they must not complain when from similar motives the I 1 majority defend themselves and their J “ opinions from Buch attacks, and endeavour j * to secure success of a polioy whereon I be* I 8 lieve the interests of Unionists and the j country's future prosperity mainly depend, j *