THE FISCAL CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1651, 21 October 1903, Page 27

THE FISCAL CAMPAIGN.

COLO AIA L PKEFREN CE DISCUSSED. LONDON, October 10. Mr C. C. Lance, the New South Wales Commercial Agent, in a letcer to “The Times/’ replying to Lord! Rosebery’s remark that the proposed preference to Australia was restricted to wine and fruit, emphasises the importance of Australasian exports of meat, dairy and other produce. “The Times’ says: “Mr Chamberlain does not propose, neither do the colonies demand, preference in everything, regardless of our interests and limitations.” Mr Herbert Gladstone, addressing a meeting at Leeds said; “VVe get on with the colonies well enough without cutting our own throats.” The (Queensland Agent-General, Sir H. Tozer, in the course of an interview, declared that Mr Chamberlain’s proposals were feasible and opportune. Preference, lie said, was the best means of ensuring the Imperial destiny. He added that the colonies would gradually reciprocate any sacrifices that Britain made. Lord Rosebery, addressing the Sheffield Reform Club, declined to be drawn on the question of the Liberal leadership. He indirectly insisted that the Duke of Devonshire (who has just resigned the presidency of the Council) should rejoin the Liberal fold. SPEECH BY THE LIBERAL LEADER. LONDON, October 16. Sir _ Henry Campbell-Bannerman, addressing a great Liberal meeting • at Bolton,, said no attempt had been made to prove the reckless and monstrous slander on the Motherland and colon- ’ ies that the Empire was on the verge of j dissolution, and would fall to pieces unless the fiscal policy was altererd. The assertion, he declared, touched the I depth of political profligacy. (Sir Henry went on to say that Liberajs were believers in freetrade because it was good for the country. It gave i the freest play to individual initiative and energy, and the largest liberty to j producer and consumer. i • Mr Balfour’s attitude, proceeded the speaker, implied that he knew the Empire was disintegrating, that trade was being visibly ruined, and that he . knew a specific cure, but that if ho proclaimed the cure when the time was not ripe he would be ejected from power. Therefore he was prepared to let . the Empire perish in order to save himself and his Government. “Retaliation,” said Sir Henry, “never ! lowered tariffs. Under it they rise higher. The Government has claimed this weapon for purposes of ‘bluff.’ j We know what a 'biluffer’ cost in the case of South Africa.” Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman went ' on to say that it was no condition of the belief of Liberals in freetrade t**afc others should follow their example' yit protection represented a system yr-yt-door relief, based on favour it isf r ascii transformed healthy trade /* ’ /-forasite i industries. ' j Mr Chamberlain’s' poll , '/> Sir : Henry, knocked itself tc •• - ** * % • g, o n. j

taxes oil food, to which the country would never subirfit. The Liberals relied upon economy in finance, bettex* educSe tion, reform of the land system, and re* form in the conditions of labour to raise the standard of living of everyoneLONDON, October 16. Mr Chamberlain, in a letter dealing with the proposed, duty oca manufactures, says “It would vary from an average of 10 per cent., according to the amount of labour involved. Thus if boots and shoes were taxed, the tax on leather which was partly manufactured would be much less. Hf the proposals are adopted, an expert committee will be appointed to collect evidence in regard to all manufactures before fixing the tariff, and consider the special circumstances of each trade and the pait played in its success by the different articles used in production. This is the scientific spirit wherein the Germans work, and it is desirable we should imitate it.” Mr Winston Churchill, M.P. for Oldham, in - a letter to the Anti-Food Tax League at Newcastle, says:—Mr Oham- / berlain is a tremendous power by himself. There is too much reason to f f*. V that Mr Balfour is secretly abrftc£ % him. These proposed numerous taxes on most articles of food may by a turn of the screw be considerably raised, with the ultimate object of transferring to the Shoulders of labour a great proportion of the prodigal increase hi ** the cost of government. Mr Churchill adds:—Mr Chamberlain admitted in the House of Commons that the worker wi)l pay three-fourths of all such indirect taxes. Mr Shaw-Lefevre, in a pamphlet issued by the Cobden Club dealing with i the balance of trade, contends that the | difference between imports and exports i is a sure proof of the growth of wealth. i The excess of imports is the payment i by the rest of W/rld of interest on ! British capital invested with 'it to the extent of £1,850,000,000,0dtf. The Hon. A. Lyttelton, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in a speech, said ho hoped to keep his predecessor's great .example before him and maintain the tracriti mas of the colonial policy. Mr Herbert says Mr Chamberlain’s eye is on tfae Irish vote. Hence the exemption of maize in the proposals. The West India Committee has unanimously approved Mi-Chamber fain’s proposals. Mr Winston Churchill’s letter to the Anti-Food Tax League at Newcastle stated that his father in 1890 relinquished all ideas of preference. Tiie London “Globe,” in replv. publishes an interview with Lord Randolph' Ohui chill in 1892 and a letter approving the report of the interview, which, however, in deference to his wishes was not published. The interview declared that it was xirgent thejr tjhould consider a commercial union the colonies bv a system of differential duties. f."n r r - LONDON, October 18. •p. i b 0 limes says the position of the J UT. e °fv De v°ushi? e (late Lord President m u.£' ouncLl ) ls intermediate between Mr Balfour and thy ere* importers. “The ✓ Ixmes” considers U a pi\y tho Duke is unable to go a little further in the application of the principle which he accepts tor the removal of difficulties lie so clearly recognises. BERLIN, Octobei 18. , /. he . Zeitfaag" urges that South Africa should be treated like Canada if it grafts preference in a manner prejudicial to- German exporters, but consides it inexpedient for Germany to enforce a high autonomous tariff against South African wool, which represents nearly the whole of Germany’s imports from South Africa. The Conservatives in the Reichstag will probably propose tliat the provisional concession of favoured treatment to Britain shall end when the new German tariff comes into operation. LA tai iff war has been going on for some time between Germany and Canada. In the latter country imports from Germany are charged one-third extra duty.} , ( CAPETOWN, Optober 36. Sir Gordon Sprigg, the Premier speaking at East Lav don, favoured Mr Chamberlain s os unifying the Empii*e, ° q. ni . OTTAWA, October 16. Sir Charles ex-Canadian Promier, in the corn's. \of an interview, said the Dominion Was perfectly united m supporting Mr G’r-Vberlain’s proposed C i on . f''** corn. It would afford a splendid advantage in assisting to develop north-western Canada-