SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12523, 16 March 1904, Page 5

SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY

THE TARIFF QUESTION.

FOREIGN AND. COLONIAL POLICY. By Telegraph —Press Association Copyright. (Received March 16, 12.14 a.m.) . . London, March. 15. Lord Rosebery, speaking at Newcastle, paid a tribute to Sir W. V. Hareourt, though he said he did not always see eye to eye with him. He said a dissolution could, not be long delayed. The retaliationists and Ghamberlainites were both agreed to oppose the free trade candidates. He urged the Liberals to show sympathy to Mr. Winston Churchill, Lord Hugh Cecil and others under the Government ban. He ridiculed retaliation, comparing it to a bathing machine in a storm. Mr. Chamberlain's crisis had dwindled to a Birmingham syndicate for fixing the tariff. It was not his object to suggest a Liberal programme, which would be the work of the chosen and appointed party leaders. It was impossible for anyone outside of the Government to dictate as. to economics and finance. The party must not have an overloaded programme, and they must apply themselves early to the temperance question, but not as fanatic extremists. He hoped there would be no wide breach in the continuity of foreign and colonial policy. Whatever changes were needful ought to be like a graceful curve, not a right angle; but no doubt they would keep the Empire together without a protective tariff. At an overflow meeting Lord Rosebery said if Mr. Chamberlain's policy was necessary British and various colonial delegates with ample powers should have been appointed to frame treaties across a table instead of Mr. Chamberlain's great political campaign, with its adornments and arts.