THE FISCAL CAMPAIGN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7886, 18 December 1903, Page 3

THE FISCAL CAMPAIGN.

MR CHAMBERLAIN AT LEEDS. THE COLONIES AND PREFERENCE. (The first part of Mr Chamberlain's speech at Leeds appears on Page 1.) United Press Association— By Electrio Telegraph— Copyrigh t (Received! December 18, 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 17. Mr Chamberlain, continuing his speech at Leeds, said : "I reiterate that preference to the colonies will not add to the cost of living. Mr. Charles Booth, one of the greatest living authorities on everything touchang the .poor, supports me. Replying to my questions if my fiscal proposals' would add to the cost of the living of the poorest, he replied : 'If carried out with reasonable prudence and circumspection, your proposals seem td me to be likely to add to the national and Imperial prosperity. Ido not think they will add to the cost of living.' " Mr Chamberlain continued : " Even if they did ifc would not affect my opinion, since the well-being of the poorer classes depends much more on the general conditions of prosperity and the fluctuations of employment than on changes in the le,vel of prices. In spite of the proof before their eyes, our opponents say that there is no evidence of colonial demand. That is really a monstrous misrepresentation. It is childish, to want me to produce— afte* the indication the Colonial Conferences afforded of the desire of the colonies to negotiate with vs — a cut and dried! result. If negotiations are needed x let them send me as an ambassador to the colonies, with full power. lam perfectly willing to rist my reputation on beinj able, not merely to satisfy the colonies that we have something to give worth their acceptance, but also to secure from the colonies an equal measure !in return. Mr Fielding, the Canadian Finance Minister, has just written to me that both the great political parties in the Dominion cordially endorse the position the Canadian Ministers took at the last Colonial Conference in regard to Imperial preferential trade. If the principle, be approved, British and colonial public men might 'be trusted to overcome the -difficulties and give the project a practical form."