The Fiscal Question.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12440, 18 December 1903, Page 2

The Fiscal Question.

1 MR CHAMBERfttiITN AT LEEDS; * i _^_ i ' i United Press Association. — By Electric Telegraphy — Copyright. . .Received December 18, 21.4 p,m. London, rDecember it. ■ Mr Chamberlain addressed 4000 persons in the Leeds Coliseum representing Unionist Associations of Yo., Vsjure,, and an overflow 'Meeting of 3000 ""workmen in the Town Hall^ He had an enthusiastic rnception. Mr Chamberlain said : " Neither the number nor the authority of my opponents alarm me. 1 am unable to accept Mr Eitchie as a great financial authority because he was under the tuition of Treasury officials for afew months. ' The speaker continued : Free trade required a reversion after 60 years, especially when protective countries Tifcre invading the British markets. Almost .all protectionist countries were increasing tLeir prosperity more rapidly than ourselves. It was utter nonsense to contend that protection would be our ruin. " I am a free trader in the cause 'J'at all trade should be free. At civpont free trade is not fair compefciti>n. 1 deny, that the British workman ;s h effectual. My assertion that our manufacturing trade with protected countries is decreasing- while {heirs is in-» creasing- •cannot be disputed, nor that our teade with British possessions is continually increasing. Even in the. colonies dumping is proceeding, endangering our hop© of further incrcas-' ing colonial trade." He doubted if many of the statements his opponents relied on to prove the unparalleled prosperity of the country could be accepted without limitations. Certainly vthey did not accord v.fth. Sir 11. Campbell-Bannerman's statement that there were 13 millions of the population on the verge <.t hunger. The true test <of prosperity vas the comparative number of people in full employment at remunerative rates', and official returns showed that employment was declining, lord Bosefoery's soothing scruples would not' soothe the workless people. Mr Chamberlain added : "Mr Asquith challenged me, in the tone of the crossoxamincr, to show any trade that had been destroyed. I did not say absolutely destroyed, but I am able to give scores of trades which have ceased to bo great trades. Hundreds of mills have been closed or diderted to* ditferrnt purposes." When we find the cleverest people in the world adopt a different policy to ours, profiting thereby, we ought to abandon our conceit, and take a leaf out of tUeir experience." It was quite possible to make a scientific tariff without making burdens for the taxpayer, while yet incidentally doing something! to dovelop trade. Foreigners rail discovered a method of taxation wLich increased employment and Tnade their' nation more able to pay taxation: Why should wo support c.Ur scientific economists and manufacturers who are unable to do what every other ccuntry and colony has dono wiihout experiencing the exaggerated dillicrlties that our opponents urgo. ''he Tariff Refonm League was already forming a non-political commission of e> ports to consider the conditions of iraCo and the remedies. "That joniiaissiou will comprise tho leading 1 representatives i of every principal industry and every group of industries, representatives of trade in India, the Crown colonies, and the great autonomous colonies. It will invite witnesses from, every trade to enquire not rnly Into the j special interests of a particular trade, but into the interests of allied trades, and then formulate a tariff." His opponents wore congratulating

themselves that evem if the refornimK gained a ma»date, yet they would b« u«^prepa,red to act, since the (iovernment inus± devote two years to'further enqniry, during which the enthusiasm would cool, so that they would have no practical result when the country givos its mandate. "If the Government in 'power will be prepared to accept our principles, the reformers have ready a great part of the information and tariff upon which the country willhave expressed an opinion. Since Co'bden's days there had beep remarkable cha»ge in national appreciation of imperial idea*. Now no nhysical difficulty preve«i^ federation of the race. My opponents allege .that we sutler from foreign competition because we are so small, but we possess an Empire greater in population, area,, variety of products and potentialities in the future, than any. To achieve the desired union we require a nation-, al, not a party policy. The colonies have been given an opportunity to commence to build, and they have, shown a general desire for reciprocal preference. They have made us 'an offer. It is xiot free trade— l wish it were — but an approach to it. That is something. Hwe get this nearer approach to cemmercial reunion why dospair ? Bf©re will come in time. It is' better to make the experiment, whatever the i»stllt."