Imperial Fiscal Question

Southland Times, Issue 19228, 15 December 1903, Page 2

Imperial Fiscal Question

. -• A TEMPTING VISION. NOT OITLENT W.-VGKS APTEK ALL. Per United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph— Copyright. OTTAWA, Dec. 1». Sir K J. Cartwright. Canadian Minister of Finance and Trade, speaking at Toronto. said if MiChamberlain says ho can tax food from all countries without increasing the price to the consumer he is wrong. Britain can force reciprocity on the I'nitod States. Can stimulate immigration and the food production of countries outside the I'nited States, or pave the way Sw a t ratio alliance with English-speaking people. He believed the Tinted States was willing to enter on reciprocal trade relations. giving the AngloSaxon race control of UJ continents. If Britain taxed fiod imports, the tax would hit the American farmer so hard, affect i riff his position by 'It I pel" cent., that he .would rencumce protection, and the result would be an alliance to the advantage of Britain. America, and CanadaLONDON. Dec. l.'V Mr ij ames Ripon. apropos of tho alleged decline in the iron trade, declares that within lo years his firm's wages increased from 28s 'Ad per week of <>O Irtmrs to «'V7s P-d for .">M hours Britain's pig iron production tor the first half of 'he present year was nearly a record, while the I'nited States' production was increasing (decreasing ?). SYDNEY. Dec 1». Received l-lth. 10. 12 p.m. Mr H B Wise. Attorney-General, has received a letter from Mr Chamberlain, wherein he sj|\ n the change to in-i-UTfiitial trade will ho carried. ii at jill. by mixed considerations oi sentiment, and interest ' An to the former I hope it is strong with you and that there is some appreciation of wlmi the Empire really means as contrasted with the parochial life and small ambitions of little States If 1 (he Empire breaks- up the atoms will each be comparatively insignilicant . powerless and uninteresting: if the> hold together they will be tin* most powerful civilising influence in the • world." STIiAK.'IIT FKO.M DALMENY. ' Doc 11. : Received 14th. 10..'J1 p.m. Lord Ko>«obor\ . addressing two meetings m Edinburgh. numbering Hi •<•< i, and including many workmen. said Mr lial four's army reform > speech was full of breezy trivialities. ■ su^-gx'sthijf an X.mos oxtra.vagaiiiia-. • Mr llall'our sent Mr Chamberlain to ■ beat the woods for game, meanwhile ■ the Cabinet sipped protection and . water until thv\ were able to diwi pense with the water Jt was evij dent the Ministers who resigned believed the Government's real policy < was not retaliation. but protection s and preferential tariffs. Mr Bailout's [ tactics were not straightforward. Lord Kosebery warned agriculturists that tho (Jo\ eminent was leading them into a quagmire of disapf pomt mont. A 2s duty on wheat wa.s inadequate to benefit the British farmer , it would only stimulate an illimitable area into competition in Canada and elsewhere. The tinio would arrive when the I'nited States woidd be vn ü ble to export wheat ; then would bo Canada's and Australia's opportunity to develop their virgiin soils and become the great supplying sources of the Empire. A bounty on Canadian wheat would increase the depopulation of rural England by attracting agricultural labourers to Canada. In the event of war it would be safest for Britain to have world-wide wheat supplies. The alleged preferential offers from the colonies were a delusion and not founded on a substratum of fact. Colonial evidence shows that it is not true that the Empire can only be kept together by preferential tariffs Never before was it so strong, united and prosperous. Why arrest a.ml disturb its beneficial development '.' \Yn are not ;l great niilitar.v Empire like Home or Kussia. but a great dcfimsive league of communities uiuier the great headship of the Crown. Each unit, including the heart of the Empire, must develop its own conditions in its own way. He appealed to the nation not to stake the future of a stately company o f commonwealths on the hazard cA the dice. Mr v Chamberlain's policy was experimental, empirical, untried and unsolicited. Lord Hosebery added : 1 refuse to strike v possibly fatal blow u t the majestic structure of British commerce or the Empire." Tho meeting resolved to favour free trade as against preference and retaliation. HISH ! Heceived J lth, 10. .->.") p.m. BEULLN, Dec. 11. In the Ko.icht.tag the Government 's proposals for extending favoured nation treatment to Britain for a period oi two years were introduced and. il bill authorising such favoured treatment was read a, second time. Couni Kevenultow (?) fiercely attacked Britain, declaring that she. constantly broke treaties. He accused Australia and India of differentiation against German sugar. Several deputies and newspupers deprecate this imprudent attack, which they declare will only bring grist to Mr Chamberlain's mill.