BUDGET OR TARIFF-REFORM.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12726, 18 December 1909, Page 3

BUDGET OR TARIFF-REFORM.

APPEAL BYVMR. CHAMBERLAIN

(Received, Dec." 17,^9.50 p.m.) London, Dec 17,

■■■ Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, in a. preface to Mr. Galviii's booklet 'IT^ritt or Budgot?" says ; that when the Government came to the; belated, conclusion that the House of ; Lords meant business, they changed their tune and endeavourcH to convince,- themselves and others that the Lords' action was nncbnßtitutional arid ; unwise. They sought to fight the election. upon a false issue, and not upon the policy of tariff reform, -which had ; itiade- an evident impression upon: the xountry^andwhich was the only polity theyVareaded. -Their siipporters ■wduldrsweep away all the constitutional usefulness of the. second chamber. v They,apparently intended to attempt the practical, destruction ~of the-. House of Lords and not its genuine amendment; Any such proposal ivas not likeCy to find favour with any -sensible man. He believed that the House of Commons ..qutirely uncontrolled would be ;a great public danger, andinuch worse than : the Houseof Lords, which being hereditary must depend for its^ whole strength and its influence upon Its. success in interpretating thei'true mind of the people. The second- point is whether Cobdenism, .especially as re-ga-rds the rreGdomof, foreign imports from all taxation, while heavier burdens are laid upon our own trade^i.s to be considered a fieal principle. The new demands of the" Budgot are;hav--ing their mutual ; effect. '; Our people; must find means' ,of providing for. fresh requirements pressing daily more iiajSUy upon "them, and. the /time has surely odirie for^a taria policy, | Which would promote British trade^ j and welfare, instead of the Budget j policy, which would surrender - our interests and piir "security.; to ; foreign .rivals. ,It is better to abolish.Cobdenism and not -the oonstitutiou^ p_uU down free imports and foreign privilege inonr market, and not the second chamber, whose only offence is giving the nation/ the. chanoe^to speak for itself. Let tho ; workers, defend ' their work and stand, by. the peers,who,in the pre§eint case ' arelstanding by them. If the issue of tariff iroform were snbinitteQ by itself, .there would 1 be no doubt whatever or the;reply; :