THE FISCAL REFORM CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12409, 23 October 1903, Page 5

THE FISCAL REFORM CAMPAIGN.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S ] SPEECHES. HIS PROGRAMME. By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright. London, October 21. , Mr. Chamberlain spoke at an overflow meeting at Newcastle. He appealed to the workmen not to approach the discussion in a mean, unpatriotic, and heckling spirit, and asked them to remember the unsel- . fish help of Australia and Canada , during the war. It was impossible to controvert the fact that wages _ would rise if there were more employment through the employers obtaining a higher profit. " My programme," said Mr. Chamberlain, "is to go with a stiff back to our foreign competitors and say: ' Gentlemen, we think you have played your game long enough,' and j then to go to our friends and kins- ; men in the colonies and say: ' Having regard to the probabilities of the future, it is high time that John Bull's sons entered into partnership with us. We ask you to help us, invite you to our councils, and call you to be one with us in trade as in everything else.' I believe that such an appeal would be reciprocated by Britishers throughout the world, and that then there would be no limit to the prosperity of both the Mother Country and the colonies." (Received October 1 22, 11.5 p.m.) London, October 22. Mr. Chamberlain addressed a great meeting at Tynemouth. He denied that the fiscal issue was sprung on ian astonished country. He went on i to say: — "I distinctly announced in the ! Cabinet that I would resign if preference was not accepted as the policy of the Government. This enabled me to appeal to Caesar, though not in a spirit of unfriendliness to the Cabinet. If I fail at the first general election I will proceed until I am convinced that the colonies will reject the scheme, which is improbable, or that the British are so provincial as to be unable to understand the magnitude and importance of the issue. If the voluntary offers of preference made by Ottawa twice are rejected owing to the pedantic ideas of recently-con-verted free-traders like Mr. Ritchie, I am unable to see how we can retain the colonies' goodwill, which is too precious to be played with. My opponents allege that I proposed at Glasgow that the colonies should enter a self-denying ordinance never under any circumstances to extend the number of their manufactures or conquer new fields of commerce in competition with the Motherland. That arose from a misapprehension, and my opponents intended to make the colonies believe that I am blind to their natural conditions and necessities, and am prepared arbitrarily to stop their progress in order to secure an advantage for Britain. The colonies know that under no circumstance do I want to interfere with their commercial freedom, any mOi'e than we would like them to interfere i with ours. "When we negotiate we i will see how far it is possible to arrange a policy mutually advantageous. I believe the colonies prefer to deal with us, and would give preference sufficient to open new fields for commerce. It would be possible to stimulate British emigration in a manner advantageous to the colonies. I think the colonies are inclined to frame future tariffs on natural and not on artificial lines, encouraging manufactures for which they have special facilities, and not encouraging manufactures which possibly they could buy cheaper. This \ policy, combined with preference, - would leave Britain with a constantly increasing trade, making full amends for any loss in other direc- ■ tions. I am confident the colonies i would negotiate in a spirit of gener- " ous appreciation, without haggling. • If a mandate were given it would be advisable for the Colonial Secretary " to proceed to the colonies to nego- . tiate on the spot." i The meeting enthusiastically resolved that the time was opportune , for the reconsideration of the fiscal ' policy of the Government.