THE FISCAL REFORM CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 14 October 1903, Page 5

THE FISCAL REFORM CAMPAIGN.

MR. RITCHIE'S FEEBLE SPEECH.

OUT OF TOUCH WITH COLONIAL OPINION. .

COMMENTS OF AMERICAN AND

CANADIAN PRESS.

A FLODDEN FIELD FOR BRIT-

ISH FREE TRADERS.

By Telegraph.— Association.—

London, October 12. Me. Ritchie, in the course of his speech at Croydon, said it would have been highly improper to introduce such a change as that of taxing bread, meat, etc., by a side wind. The eight millions of war taxes derived from tea and sugar ought to have been removed without the imposition of new taxation on bread and meat. Mr. Chamberlain's juggle would involve & loss to the consumers of nine millions, which would be increased many times that number of millions if the suggested ten per cent, tax were imposed on. foreign manufactured goods. The sovereign would then only be worth 17s 6d. (Cries of " We'll have higher wages" here interrupted Mr. Ritchie.) He asserted that there were no signs of the colonies generally giving the Mother Country preferential advantages. Such preference as Canada offered was of no great value. To treat all the colonies alike you must put a tax on raw material. These proposals instead of uniting the Empire would have an opposite effect. " I advised the Cabinet," Mr. Ritchie went on, "that it would be a huge political mistake to acquiesce in the colonies being punished for maintaining a friendly attitude towards -the Mother Country, and that the particular steps to be taken should depend on the circumstances in each sase. Tariff retaliation might, not be the only effectual "method of . reprisal, and if attempts were made to destroy our industries by 'dumping,' then reprisals would be justified." Mr. Ritchie stated that the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Lord George Hamilton, and himself met on September 15 and agreed to resign. ■

Canadian opinion is that Mr. Ritchie is out of touch with colonial views and aspirations, and that his speech will have an irritating effect.

The New York correspondent of the Standard states that the contention that British policy should be directed with a view to American feelings and interests finds no American support. The New York World holds that Mr. Ritchie is wrong with regard to American resentment towards the British fiscal proposal, and adds that America is not entitled to grumble, but must blame those responsible for neglecting to secure Canadian reciprocity, which would have prevented the present crisis. The New York press generally holds that Mr. Ritchie's feeble re-

'[ plies to Mr. Chamberlain are making j a Flodden Field for.British free j traders. '

BOER FARMERS FAVOUR THE CHAMBERLAIN - POLICY. ... London, October 12. Andres Cronje, the Boer ex-gene-ral, has cabled Mr. Chamberlain: " Both Englishmen and Boers composing the Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp Farmers' Association congratulate you upon your virile opinion and campaign. Your scheme is destined to' benefit the colonies, while the Empire may anticipate en-hanced'prosperity-and the strengthening of mutual ties. By the increased consumption of Home manufactures the African veldt will return South African produce." 1

A FRENCH VIEW. Paris, October 12. M. Meline, in the course of an interview, said the first effect of British duties on foreign products would be an appreciable diminution of imported articles, which were only imported to be again exported, greatly to the benefit of-British commission agents. These articles would proceed directly to the place of consumption and benefit French shipping. MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL'S DELIVERANCE. (Received' October 13, 6.30 p.m.) London, October 12. Mr. Winston Churchill, writing to his constituents, avowed that he bluntly and flatly opposed Mr. Chamberlain, who, he says, like all quacks, protested too much. The colonies, he adds, will reject proposals cramping their economical development, and commerce, will shrink from the unnecessary revolution of trade. Unionists are not such fools as to hand themselves over to capitalist combinations.' He suggested that even Mr. Balfour was playing the part of a trickster. At the same time he was willing to give Mr. Balfour power and freedom to negotiate." ■ SUGAR BOUNTIES AND NONBOUNTIES. (Received October 13, 10.7 p.m.) London, October 13. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at Oldham, said if bounty-fed sugar injured British refineries employing 4000 workers cheap sugar had created jam and biscuit factories employing 120,000.'" .'' ■ - CANADIAN SUPPORT. (Received October 13, 10.7 p.m.) London, October 13. Mr. G. E. Foster, ex-Canadian Finance Minister, is coming to England to advocate Mr. Chamberlain's i proposals. * • : '"'