BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1014, 6 October 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

COUNTRY NOT PREPARED TO DISCUSS FOOD TAXATION.

THE STANDARD’S ADMISSION,;

Telegraph—Press Association—• Copyright. LONDON, October -1. Mr Balfour, interviewed by, the Daily Mai said : “Mr Chamberlain agrees with me that the country, is not prepared for food taxation.

“ Air Chamberlain tells me that lie is bound w th the colonies, and jv 11 therefore act as their missionary in regard to the food question.” The Daily Mail credits Mr Chamberlain with proposing new food taxes to bring in ten millions, which will replace old food taxes of ten millions, and then to remove the remaining food taxes of three millions by a ten per cent, tariff on foreign manufactures, producing ton millions, devoting part of this surplus to a reduction of the duty on tobacco^ The Standard, in its money article declares that city circles, while favor ng Mr Balfour and a small tax on foodstuffs, asks for a more definite programme than Mr Balfour has submitted, and that there are also enquiries whether the reforms will he in the hands of the Cabinet or. a committee of experts..

ANOTHER RESIGNATION PROBABLE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 12.3 a.m., Oct. 6. London, Oot. 5. The Birmingham Post says that the Duke ot Devonshire’s resignation has been placed in Mr Balfour’s hands in the event of tho Government policy exoeeding certain limitations.

MR CHAMBERLAIN ON PROTECTION. By Telegraph—Press Aesooiation —Copyrighl Received 1,14 a.m., Oct. 6. London, Oct. 5.

Mr Chamberlain’s preface to a series of articles by the Vice-Secretary of the Imperial Tariff Committee, emphasises that the autonomous colonies had advanced, although they abjured Cobdonism. He contonds that the prosperity of tho workers has increased in -greater proportion in protected countries than in the United Kingdom. He invites Cobdenites to explain the stationary British exports and the great increase of those of protected countries. He challenges Imperialist freetraders how they would treat tho Colonial request of preference in return for reciprocal,’ advantages. The Colonies were ever expanding and likely to give constantly increasing value to their concessions, but if the proposals were rejected there was great danger to Britain of losing the present trade. It was only tho growth of oolonial trade that concealed the heavy decline in British and foreign trade. If, he states, the colonial advance is refused we may lose their trade through higher dutieß and reciprocal arrangements concluded with foreigners. The Standard deprecates angry rhetoric, and considers allusions to the colonies injudicious, and that it would be wiser to avoid generalities, and submit a clear explanation as to how far ho proposes to go, and how to meet complication of the colonies and India. It is not clear that, the colonies are willing to accept fiscal union on reciprocal lines.

“INSULAR FREE TRADE.”

MR BALFOUR'S PAMPHLET,

Per B.M.S. Sonoma at Auckland, SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17

A despatch from London dated Septembor 15th says:—Mr Balfour issued tonight advance sheets of a pamphlet on “ insular free trade,” in which he presents arguments in favor of a change in Britain’s fiscal policy. The Premier says that ho approaches the subject from the standpoint of a freetrader as far as circumstances will permit. Ho says : “ I am a freetrader, but not of the pattern which holds that the doctrine of freetrade is universal in its application and capable of exact expression, so that every conclusion to which it logically leads must ba accepted without hesitation and without reserve.”

The arguments presented vary little from those recently enunciated, but the Premier points out that as a result of England’s policy of retaining a fiscal policy mado for a freetrade country in a world of freetraders, not for a freetrade country in a world of protectionists, tho rate of the export trade has not increased, and in fact has seriously diminished compared with previous years. Some departments show no increase, while others show symptoms of decay. The Premier assorts that there is no reason to expect an improvement. In tho meantime Germany, France, and Bussia, and even Great Britain’s selfgoverning colonies continue to build up protected interest within their borders. The pamphlet is a reprint of notes which were circulated among Mr Balfour’s colleagues in the Cabinet early in August. The publication, immediately after a momentous Cabinet council, is believed to indicate that they embody a statement of policy accepted by, or at least acquiesced in by the majority of the Cabinet. If this is correct it means the abandonment of the idea of preferential tariffs with the colonies and taxation of food; in fact, a system of retaliatory duties. Mr Balfour, in a speech on October Ist, expects to elaborate and explain his case, and then the Cabinet will closely watch his reception by the Conservative element of tho zollverien.