BRITISH POLITICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5086, 3 October 1903, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

CABLE NEWS. -J KITH I) PEXS3 ASSOCIATION. — BY SIECUIB -vr vr. r: ■,-if —corYXIGUI.

THE FISCAL CON'IROVEKSY. SPEECH BY THE PRIAFE MINISTER. DEJHNTPION OF GOVERNMENT POLICY. RETALIATION DECLARED FOR. (Received October 2, 11.51 p.ni.) LONDON, October 2. About fire thousand persons were present at tho Drill Hall at bhcfiield last night to boar Mr Balfour’s promised speech ou the fiscal question. Tfio Jt*turl of Derby presided. The Prime Minister received a tremendous ovation. Mr Balfour made a speech lasting for eighty minutes, exclusively dealing with the question of tariff reform. Ho commenced by saying that his subject was not now. but its exceptional promiiienco at this moment was duo to a groat speech by a great man. 101100113.) There were many contributory causes. War bad brought us into closer and more conscious touch with our groat colonial' Empire; the colonial Premiers had categorically and explicitly empliasisod the question; and all parties wore growing increasingly uneasy as to tho condition of trade, as Bpocches, pamphlets and articles on tediuical education prior to Mr Chamberlain's Birmingham speech proved. Mr Chamberlain's speech, said Mr Baitour. fell ou ground already prepared. Germany’s attempt to penalise Canada had intensified the feeling of our helplessness in negotiations, thcrebv strengthening the conviction that tariif attacks could only bo met by tariff replies. The past sixty years bad killed the reputation of tlio Cobdonito propltecics. Cobdeu’s ideal contained great elements of mobility, but instead of tlio world being commercially one, without artificial barriers, the sentiment of nationality had received accretion and strength which nobody in Cobden’s time could have dreamed of. “Wo have been dreamers while wall tariffs grow, dividing nation from nation,” declared the Prime Minister. “ Our colonies, our own flesh and blood, the very sinews of tho Empire that is to bo. have boon building up one vested interest after another under a system of protection. When tliat system reached its logical conclusion, it mado it as bard for tho Motherland to export thither as to foreign countries. “Tho only attempt made to hinder thafc state of tilings was tho successful treaty with Franco. Cobden and Gladstone then utilised certain taxes, which at the time wore quite ready otherwise for repeal on their merits, tor tho purpose of obtaining Concessions from France. I have found there is no economical distinction between retaining for a diplomatic purpose a tax you would ctbeawc&e repeal and putting on for tho same purpose a tax which would otherwise bo unimposod.” (Cheers.) “ Evil high tariffs have been allowed to grow by us and by tho colonies to a point probably excluding complete solution. Any attempted solution, as far as ho wmi able to see, would involve taxation on food. His remedy was incomplete, oven if tried in its entirety, but it cannot thus be tried, because the country will not tolerate a tax on food. Nevertheless, a palliative would strengthen the Ministry’s hands. The foreigner would be greatly helped to do us justice if ho knew that behind our request for fair treatment was a method of exacting it. “As regards retaliation against others, to begin with high tariffs would enable reductions to bo made. Wo might begin at the other end, with low special duties—something to uivo foreigners which they would . value, something to take away which they would regre-t.” A LEAD FOB THE PARTY. TAXATION ON FOOD ABANDONED. (Received October 3, 0.59 a.m.) LONDON, October 2. Continuing bis speech, Mir Balfour said:—• ‘You will not. get the great commercial nations to abandon protection. I fear you will not got tho great "selfgoverning colonies to retrace the steps which wo, without remonstrance, have permitted them to take. They have and must always retain, fiscal autonomy. “I have described the evils, and am asked the. remedy,” said Mr Balfour. “It is my duty to advise the party whereof for the moment I am chief. I will answer, I know no cure, inasmuch as tho evil has gone too far; but I know a palliative, which I am hero to recommend.” Mr Balfour at this stage warming to his subject, ids utterances became more strenuous. Ho was cheered on expressing his determination to give his party an unmistakable lead. Being interrupted by “Wlmt about Joo?” Mr Balfour was again cheered. Tho Premier then went on to say:— “I am asking for facilities for bettor bargaining. My fundamental request is that the country should give tho Government—from whatever party it is drawn* —freedom to negotiate with other nations—an equality of freedom whereof it may bo deprived by no foreo of circumstances or foreign pressure, but by it* own pedantry and conceit.” Mr Balfour's corollary that ho did not think opinion was ripe for taxation on food, contrasted with the loud approval of Ins words: “But I believe the evils of taxatiori on food within narrow limits have been exaggerated beyond anything reason or logic can justify.” The speaker then added, emphatically: “As one bound to advise a great party regarding official policy, I say the taxation of food is not at present within the limits of practical politics.” Mr Balfour continued: “I desire to reverse the fiscal tradition prevalent during the last two generations. I ask to delete tho doctrine that taxation must be for revenjuo alone.” . Addressing an overflow meeting, the Prime Minister said tho Motherland’s bonds with the colonies must bo real and substantia], equally os they were sentimental. He bad been content to leave tho question open, but neither his colleagues in tho Government, nor the House of Commons, nor the country, would tolerate that view. They bad determined that be should give the lead, and ho gave it. Ho was unworthy of the leadership, but ho tried to lead, and ho meant to do it. PRESS COMMENTS. (Rceived October 3, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 2. Referring to Mr Balfour's speech at Sheffield, “The Times” says Enthusiasm increased in exact proportion to the

approximation of Mr BalxouFs attitude to Mr Chamberlain’s. Other journals say thero are indications that Mr Balfour would be supported tho whole way. Tho “Financial Times” states that the next election will turn on tho whole question, not half. The “Standard” complains of tho vagueness of Mr Ballour’s language, wiiioh was apparently a theoretical approval of prelerenco. Tho “Standard” adds: “It (right to bo known whether Mr Balfour and .Mr Chamberlain are acting on converging lines.” Tho “Daily News” says there are indications that the cause of freotrade rests with tho Liberals alone. MR CHAMBER!.AIN AND FOOD TAXATION. LONDON, October 1. Mr Chamberlain, in a preface to a pamphlet on Imperial reciprocity, consisting of articles publisned in the “ Daily Telegraph,” vehemently assails bis opponents for representing that food lias heretofore been free, and deliberately ignoring the fact that a largo part of the revenue is derived from food and drink, tlio bulk of which is consumed by the workers. He declares that tho danger cf the future will not bo a rise of pricco owing to taxation, but failure of supply duo to natural causes or combinations similar to the wheat “corner” engineered by Mr Joseph Loiter, tho American speculator, somo time ago. Mr Chamberlain adds: “And the policy that' develops now markets and increases the food-producing areas will tend to cheapness and stability of price. Any duty to secure preferential trade with the colonics would bo small, and probably Wholly—-certainly partly—paid by foreigners. A n y additional cost to the worker would bo met by an equivalent in reductions on other equally necessary articles of food. The change would provide more employment for our people, a greater demand for labour, a i-Ibo in wages, full work and fair prices.” THE SPLIT IN THE MINISTRY. MR RITCHIE'S RESIGNATION. LONDON, October 1. Mr 0. T. Bitchio, in resigning the portfolio of Chancellor of the Exchequer, wrote that he was in ontjre sympathy with the desire to unite tho Motherland and the colonics more closely. He knew no method cf granting preference to the colonies except Mr Chamberlain's proposed taxation of food, involving an increase in taxation, and to that policy he was oppasod. Regarding access to foreign markets, and tho proposal for retaliation, that would lead to protection and greater evils than tho one it was intended to prevent. (Received October 3, 1.20 a.m.) LONDON, October 2. Mr Ritchie (late Chancellor of tho Exchequer) has informed tho “Daily Chronicle” that he was unaware of Air Chamberlain's resignation until two days after sending in his own. " RESIGNATION OF LORD GEORGE HAMILTON. LONDON, October 1. Commenting upon the particulars just published regarding the resignation of Lord George Hamilton, Secretary of State for India—who says ho was not aware when ho resigned of Mr Chamber lain's retirement, or that the Govornmant had eliminated preferential trade from its policy programme—, tho “ Standard ” is puzzled over tho episode, which it declares “is unparalleled in one political history.” The journal adds: “Tho whale story■ bars not boon told, and the solution is awaited with tho liveliest expectation, inasmuch ns when Cabinet separated on the 14th Mir Ritohie and Lord George Hamilton still believed it continued to include Mr Chamberlain.” Lord Georgia Hamilton, in bis letter to Air Balfour, declared that the trade returns for the past three years demonstrated that the springs of commerce are undiminislicd and responsive. India’s exports, lie points out. exceed the British Empire’s normal demands, and free access to foreign markets is essential to India. .However preference operated within'the Empire, retaliation from outside would aggravate and heighten hostile tariffs. PENDING CHANGES IN THE CABINET. LONDON, October 1. Lord Alilnor has received the King’s command to virit Balmoral. It is expected that the changes in the Cabinet will bo announced on Alonday. King Edward returns to London to be present at the transference of the seals of office. It is rumoured that Lord Stanley (Financial Secretary to the War Office) will succeed Air Austen Chamberlain as Postmaster-General. THE GENERAL ELECTIONS. LONDON,. October 1. Sir Alexander Acland Hood, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, speaking at Sheffield, said ho believed tho general elections ivould not occur for two years. * LECTURES ON TRADE. . LONDON, October 1. Tho Government agents are arranging for tho delivery in the colonies of a lecture prepared by recognised experts at the instance of Air B. Alorgan, late Trade Commissioner in South Africa, showing tho progress of British manufactures. The same lectures are to be delivered on the Continent with a view to stimulating trade. A TARIFF CONFERENCE. ' LONDON. October 1. The Earl cf Derby opened a conference on the fiscal question at Sheffield. Sir J. B. Dorington, member for Tewkesbury, moved an official resolution welcoming Air Balfour’s policy. Air H. Chaplin, member for the Sleaford division of Lincolnshire, will move a motion in favour of preferential tiriffs. A telephone receiver will be placed in front of Mr Balfour to-night at Sheffield when he is delivering his speech, an outline of which was riven in the recently-issued pamphlet. It is Imped that tho speech will bo audible in London. , (Received October 2. 10.45 turn.) LONDON 7 . October 2. .The National Union Conference at Sheffield is ,tbe largest and most influential gathering of the kind ever bold. At yesterday’s proceedings it was noticeable that whenever Mr Chamberliin’s name was mentioned tho audieaoe—except a body of “Free Fooders” under Air W. J. Galloway, one of the Alanchestor Al.P.’s—cheered itself hoarse with enthusiasm. The official resolution —moved by Sir

John Dorington—welcomed Mr Balfour’s policy, and favoured rcconsidcralion of the fiscal system and recovery of fiscal freedom to negotiate with other countries. Air Chaplin moved a rider expressing thanks to Air Chamberlain for bis proposals and satisfaction at lias patriotic endeavour to arouse attention to the need for fiscal reform and to tho importance of Air Balfour’s policy. The rider moved by Air Chaplin concluded; —“That this conference, wlule reserving final judgment until Air Chainborlain’s proposals are more fully developed, approval any practical scheme for promoting the closer union of the colonics and tho Alotherland.” Voting was deferred until to-day to enable the conference to consider Air Balfour’s speech.