FISCAL REFORM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8100, 1 October 1904, Page 2

FISCAL REFORM.

IRISH TRADE REQUIREMENTS.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

(Received September 30, 10.43 p.m.) LONDON, September irO. Mr John Redmond, speaking at Ottawa, declared tliat Irish industries wanted pro tection not against German but British productions. The Irish party would settle tho tariff question. A3 British Freetraders and Protectionists were equally divided the opportunity must be used wisely, so as not to drive the British into united opposition to Irish demands.

APPEAL TO AUSTRALIANS BY MM

JOHN BURNS.

(Received September 30, 10.25 p.m.) LUNDUN, September 30.

Mr John Burns, M.P., the well-known Labor leader, cabling to Mr J. C. Watson, Loader of the Opposition in the Federal House of Representatives, says: "1 adhere to facts Bet out in the Labor Commoners' manifesto ol August of last yea*to the Labor representatives in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Mr Chamberlain's proposals for preferential tariffs, whatever their application to Australian products, undoubtedly meant a rise in the price of foodstuffs for British workers. 1 still believe Australian workers will not ask for anything imposing this disability upon the Motherland's workers. I appeal to them seriously to bear this in mind when considering fiscal proposals of any description. Ido not share Mr Chamberlain's assumption that preferential tariffs form the only system to. keep the Empire together, and. I would bo Burprised to hear that Australians' kindly feelings toward the Motherland were based on such solid considerations. If mutual kinship does como it must spring from higher motives than the tariff can ever possibly supply." WOOING AUSTRALIA. ANOTHER CABLE TO Mil wATSON. (Received September 30, midnight.) LONDON September 30. Mr Richard Bell, M.P. and Chairman of the Leeds Trades Union Congress, cabling to Mr Watson, says : "I feel sure the Australian Labor party will not desire to adopt anything which, while it might offer some little advantage to them, would entail a tremendous sacrifice by British workers and their families. I believe that labor in the colonies and in tho Motherland alike docs not desire to gain any advantage for itself at the great expense of another. I appeal to Australian workers to respect the feelings of their British comrades, so emphatically expressed at tho Trades Union Congress, where the representatives of all section of British Labor were unanimously declared against any system of preference."

MR CHAMBERLAIN'S INVITATION TO VISIT AUSTRALIA.

(Received October 1, 1.7 a.m.) SYDNEY, September 30. At the Chamber of Manufacturers' dinner the president read Mr Chamberlain's reply to the Chamber's invitation, to visit Australia, as follows: "Jj welam.'o your telegram, which is niosi, oiu.-bur.aging, and lam grateful for. your, invitation. Although I cajmpjt accept it now, yet I hope that before rang I may bring evidence to Australia of the readiness of the Mother Country to meet her half way in a closer commercial union." The message was received with great enthusiasm, the company rising and singing "For He's a Jolly Good Felloy- M MR WATSON INTERVIEWED.

(Received- October 1," 9.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, October 1. Interviewed with reference to the cable sent by Messrs Burns and Bell, Mr Wfttson said: There is no desire on the part of Australian workers that British people should subject themselves to any disabilities on, our behalf. In the Australian view, preferential trade is essential from an Empire standpoint, but it is a matter for the people of Britain to decide whether or not it is to their interests. It has been suggested that the taxation in Britain might be regulated so that preferential trade would involve no greater sacrifice on the part of the British proletariat than was at present exacted, and if that is so I cannot see why preference should not he adopted. Loyalty to the Motherland goes without saying, but to us it seems advisable to have a stronger bond in* the shape of reciprocal trade relations, and, admitting tho wisdom, we leave the ultimate decision in the. hands of the British people. T deem it advisable to leav* no room for misapprehension as to the opiniocns pf the Australian people, which I | teSffiilid? 01 * 1 * ** ■ °* ? M "J