THE TARIFF QUESTION.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12481, 6 March 1909, Page 2

THE TARIFF QUESTION.

SPEECH BY MR WINSTON

CHDRCHILL.

" • London, March 4. Mr Churchill, President of the Board of Trade, speaking at the Chamber of Commerce banquet, said that the revision of the French tariff was a matter of grave concern to the trading community. -The Board of-Trade was" hilly prepared to '-take steps "to' safeguard ; tho "interests - o?. tlie xotmiry. America's, revisions of duties appeared to partake of the. nature J of a-"reduc-tion of duties. ' Dealing with tariffs generally, Mr Churchill repeated in substance his declaration hrhis recent speech to the effect that retaliation as air occasional weapon may ' possibly be used. He added^^Ayhile responsible for the Board of Trade, no utterance of mine shall tie; the- hands of the country in taking any steps for the permanent benefit of trade.' '

- Sir Bonar Law said' that Mr Churchill's speech, very long ago, would have been absolutely impossible from, a Liberal and' it- was a refreshing contrast with old dognra that the only way to fight hostile tariffs was by free imports. ,