BRITISH POLITICS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12470, 22 February 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

o. [Press Association. — Copyright.] the house of commons. address-in-leply debate. (Received Feb -21; 4.30 p.m.) London, Feb 20. - Mr Chamberlain's amendment was defeated by 276 to 107 after a debate lasting for two days. : The [Jnionist free fooders'and the Nationalists did^not vote. . The Opposition . made no definite proposals, beyond Mr Wyndham's suggestion to impose . a tax on meat, wooa, and wheat of two shillings. Mr I3alfour demanded consideration for the producer, besides the consumer. He never believed that fiscal reform would solve, the whole problem of \uiemployment. The country-de-pended on the manufactures and the present system aggravated unemployment in skilled trades. They must abandon the idea that the country, by placing a protective duty on one particular commodity, is necessarily at a (disadvantage in a neutral market. The Colonies ardently desired England to imitate their fiscal example. Preference . would . give freer trade with the Colonies. It would be disastrous if the Colonies rrave preference to other countries, against England. " There is great interest as- to whether Mr Balf our' s speech will show him to be on firm ground with the tariff reformers. Newspaper comments indicate that it is generally considered that he. still lags behind. ■ Mr Winston 'Churchill's speech, closing the debate, was chiefly notable for its ■ disapproval of allegations that capital was leaving the country in unusual volume. Ha reiterated that retaliation might occasionally be resortpd to. . ■ '•'. . .