SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12488, 15 March 1909, Page 3

SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR.

THE COLONEES' PREFERENCE.

Received March 14, 4.30 p.m. . ■■■.•■'-■ • London, March -13. Mr Balfour, as the'guest of the Executive Committee of the Tariff Reform League, remarked : "There is no doubt that fiscal reform is Jthe first plank of our platform. (Gheers). It is the matter wherotoany, Unionist Govrnment must first adSress itself."" He referred at length to Mr Winston Churchill's declaration as regards retaliation, and : quoted extracts if rom speeches of Ministers; who claimed that retaliation was really "protection. It was another indication, irrespective of party, that the .old system must be changed. There were symptoms that the opinion was spreading beyond the Unionist ranks. He predicted that when the changes came they would produce no undue, shock to national industry or the course of national trade. He added that the changes would be common-sense, moderate and reasonable. - :-■■••• ■■■-.■-. The Council of the London Chambers of. Commerce resolved that^the preference accorded by ±he seK-govr: erning colonies would be a distinct advantage to British^ manufacturers , and ; its withdrawal, would be . most detrir mental to trade, ■ : v