THE BIRMINGHAM CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 19

THE BIRMINGHAM CONFERENCE.

•MX BALFOUR'S POLICY ENDORSED

LONDON, November 13.

Great interest is felt in Mr Balfotir's speech, which he will deliver at Birmingham on Thursday in connection with the ' conference of the National Union of Conservative Constitutional Associations. November 14.

In addressing the agents of the National Union of Conservative Associations oft the eve of the Birmingham Conference, Sir A. F. Acland Hood, in a fighting speech, declared that the real remedy for the distress of the unemployed was a better market for Home products in the colonies and power to make terms with the foreigner.

Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, speaVing at the Colston banquet (Bristol), twitted Mr Balfour with going to Birmingham to make his- submission, as a greater potentate had when "he went to Canossa. He supposed the Leader of the Opposition had' at last discarded his doubts and hesitaii<m, and meant to come out as an honest Protectionist. ,

Even if the Unionists won a general election they would be unable to carry tariff reform straight away, since they had no coherent, and practical scheme ready. It would be unwise for them to declare their inability to carry social reforms until Freetwjwle was out of the way, and by including such reforms in their general constructive programme they would best hasten its triumph.

With Protection the privilege given to one industry would be claimed 'by another and another until revenue would be forgotten in the scramble for trade advantages.

The dragon of Socialism was not new. Property would be in no danger if a spirit of justice and liberty we're abroad and a check placed on the arrogance of wealth in time. Jt would be unwise for the Unionists to force tariff reform in front of their fiscal policy.

November 15.

Two thousand delegates attended the conference of the National Union of Coneervative and Constitutional Associations at Birmingham.

Mr Chaplin moved that the first constructive policy be fiscal reform, broadening the basis of taxation, safeguarding the great productive industries from unfair competition, strengthening the facilities ior negotiating in foreign markets, establishing a preferential commercial arrangement with the colonies, and securing for OBritish producera and workmen further advantage over foreign competitors in colonial markets.

Mr Balfour wrote stating that he thought the resolution, summarised with perfect Accuracy and much felicity his speech at

the Council of the National Union on February 15. *

The motion was carried enthusiastically.

The conference condemned the Government's inaction in repressing the disorder vc Ireland.

It was resolved that Socialism could be best combated by tariff reform and oldage pensions.

The conference greatly regretted Mr Chamberlain's illness, and rose in a body and sang "For he's a jolly good fellow."

Mr Balfour addressed a meeting of 3500 persons in the Hippodrome at Birmingham in connection with the conference. Great enthusiasm prevailed.

Mi* Balfour urged unity, though he said it was impossible to lay down in black and white what constituted party loyalty. He insisted that tariff reform was gaining strength slowly here, rapidly there, and continuously everywhere, because the citizens were becoming utterly discon- ■ tented with the existing system. He said he had always thought that the promotion of free trade within the Empire was the most important of all our commercial interests, but until the recent conference he entertained doubts as to whether that policy was practicable when co-operating with the large number of units requisite. It would be irrational to entertain any such fears after what had occurred at the conference. He was astonished at the complacency of the Ministerial references debated at the conference. Personally, he thought that the Ministers cut a very poor figure. At the beginning of 1907 the temper of the self-governing colonies was such that the British Government might easily have concluded an arrangement enormously promoting Imperial inter-communication and commerce. Even if the British Government was unable to do much, it might at least have expressed sympathy, going as far as the revenue needs permitted. The opportunity had been wantonly and recklessly thrown away, and we had no right to complain J if the colonies pursued a commercial policy wherein the interests of the Motherland had no place at all. If the Unionists were installed in office tomorrow, they would first again summon the conference which had been so» hastily dissolved, open the door which had been so rashly closed, and see if they could not do something towards the great ideal of Imperial unity, which every responsible colonial statesmen shared, with which the late Imperial Governmen t sympathised, and which Mr Chamberlain had done so much for. — (Cheers.) He heartily subscribed to the fiscal resolution which the conference had carried with acclamation. Any fiscal changes whiqh the pj"*ty might adopt would embody a comprehensive .scheme, equally advancing all the four great propositions contained in the resolution. He declined to go into details, and declined to exclude from this alteration that if taxation were imposed^ on any article of import they must except raw material. Also, the tax imposed must not augment the proportion paid by the Working man. He admitted that the growth of Socialism was a disquieting phenomenon, and if Socialism was successful it would be absolutely ruinous to the whole community. That movement could best be met by a constructive policy of wide social reforms, but it was impossible to execute such a policy on the present basis of taxation. ' Mr Austin Chamberlain said that after such a speech it would not be Mr Balfour's fault if the party was not able to pull together.

The Times (tariff Teform) says that Mr Balfour has placed tariff Teform and a Colonial Conference in the party's programme.

The Globe" (Opposition) states that Mr Balfour cast aside his hair-splitting nice- j tie», onxl gave ?. definite acceptance of nine-tenths of the Unionist party's programme. _ j The Westminster Gazette (Government) ' considers the speech indefinite.

November 16.

The Unionist Conference unanimously carried a motion thanking Mr Balfour for his speech, and assuring him of enthusiastic support of the policy which he unfolded.