BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1017, 9 October 1903, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S GREAT SPEECH. By Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, Oct. 7, Mr Chamberlain, continuing, said ’ “ In 1872 jve sent to the' protected countries ol Europe and the United States £118,000,000 worth of manufactures, in 1882 eighty-eight millions, iii 1892 seven ty-three and alialf millions—a decline ol forty-two and a-lialf millions in thirty years, 'there was a further decline of three and a-lial£ millions to neutral countries like Egypt, China, and South America. While the United Kingdom trade was stagnant, its character changed. While trade with foreigners declined forty-six .millions. that with British possessions nad increased forty, millions. The present trade witn the colonies and British possessions was larger, more valuable, and the most rapidly increasing section of our commerce.

liiey will reserve us trade we already enjoy, and not arrange tariffs , in luture in order to start industries to come into competition with ours They will not allow their present in- , dustries to be injured, but outside of that there remains a great mar- . gin we could permanently retain, if trade is so valuable with eleven million colonists, wliat will it be .worth when the population is Jorty mil- ( lions ? The colonies would certain- ( iy give the Motherland preference to 1 all trade now done with foreigners, f amounting to forty-seven millions, i of that amount twenty-six millions \ might come to'Britain if reasonable preference was accorded. The present > prospective colonial trade would, give i 'employment to 750,000 British workmen, providing subsistence for four million persons.” Mr Chamberlain added : “ Sir 11. Campbell-Bannerman may consider that a squalid argument, but I as a business man do not despise colonial trade, which some of my opponents regard with such contempt and grievous ignorance. I also appeal to something higher than your interest in tho greatest Empire of the world, which, with decent organisation and consolidation, would become selfsupporting. Every necessity, every luxury, is producible within the Empire. Remember how recently our distant kinsmen rushed to our aid, afford ng valuable material and moral assistance. That is the result of the Empire’s glorious inheritance, at a cost of much blood and treasure.

The first work of the present generation was to build firmly and permanently the edifice which others had founded. We must either draw .closer to sister States or drift apart. Although lie would not lies'll ate to ask his countrymen to make sacrifices to maintain the Empire, lie believed it was unnecessary. An arrangement to benefit all concerned could only be by commercial union .and reciprocal preference.' Can you lay the foundations of the Empire we look to as a brilliant possibility by a futile offer to the colonies of preference of their manufactures. Wc cannot give preference to raw material, nor do I propose lE, You must pay a tax oil food.“In broad outline,” he said, '“I propose a duty of 2s 7d per quarter on foreign corn ; no duty, on corn from British possessions, no duty on maize ; a corresponding tax on foreign flour, a live per cent, duty on foreign meat and dairy; produce, •except bacon ; substantial preference to colonial wines, and perhaps fruits —remission of three quarters or the duty on tea, and half that on. sugar, .with a corresponding reduction on coffee, and cocoa. The new duties wo.uld cost the agricultural laborer sixteen and a-lialf farthings per week, the artisan nineteen and a-lialf farthings, but the remission would bo equivalent to this even if the whole of the taxes were paid by consumers instead of by foreigners,” He estimated that the Exchequer .would lose £2,800,000 a year. Tie proposed to recover it by means of a ten per cent, tax on foreign manufactures, yielding nine millions, enabling a further reduction on food and other taxes. Tic was confident the colonies would meet us in no spirit of selfishness. As a missionary, of Empire, he implored them to do nothing to disintegrate the Empire, and hot to refuse to sacrifice futile superstition and inept prejudice,- thereby losing the results of centuries of noble effort and patriotic endeavor, '(Wildly enthusiastic applause.) Mr Chamberlan spoke for nearly two hours. The gale greatly delayed telegraphic reports of the speech. 'There is a consensus of opinion that the speech .was a great oratorical triumph. The Times says it was an excellent beginning to Die campaign. The Standard says that much of Air Chamberlain’s ground is untenable.' Many of Tils promises are hypothetical and unproved, The Daily News says the preferences are insufficient to tempt the colonies. A campaign -of passion would be a peril to the Empire. .The Morning Post says it is a cheap and simple scheme, securing the end in view. The Chronicle says the scheme is a vague one. It it a baseless threat to suggest that the colonies would separate without preference. The Daily Mail favors protection of manufacturing industries until the foreign tariff is practically altered, FREETRADE OPINIONS. SYDNEY, Oct. 8. The Tlerald says Mr Chamberlain’s speech can only .be characterised as alarmist. Stripped of its pseudojingoism and of extravagance, Mr Chamberlain’s policy, promised when he first enunciated his propob,aljsv now, amounts tq this : We are called on to reserve to England the trade she enjoys 'and not to start industries in competition. How will this harmonise with the protectionist policy of the Federal Government ? The general drift of the Glasgow speech is nothing more or less than an ’appeal to the electors to stem the tide of drift which has set in for the Ministry. The Telegraph says Mr Chamherlain seems more anxious to excite the Imperial enthusiasm of his audience than' to instruct them regarding the practical nature of the new brand of fiscalism. He trusts to c the sentiment of kinship to provide t some formula by which the problem e may he solved, in spite of all prac- j tical difficulties in the way- a

FURTHER DETAILS. PREFERENCE MOST URGENT BRANCH OF PROBLEM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigh t Received 10 p.m., Oct. 8. London, Oct. 8.

Mr Chamberlain addressed 3500 people. There was great enthusiasm. Ho stated that preference to the colonies was the most urgent branch of tho problem. It was impossible to play fast and lose with their kinsmen, who in a spirit of brotherhood and unselfish desire to promote the interests of the Empire made us an offer, believing that a mutual concession would secure an arrangement beneficial to the Motherland and the colonies. They would not complain if it were not accepted, but perhaps transfer the advantage to other countries less hampered with prejudices and superstitions. He justified retaliation on the ground of the altered conditions of trade. It was impossible to believe that the Americans and French were all fools because they did not adopt Cobdenism.

ion in the City, in favor of Mr Chamberlain. The Times’ general opinion is decidedly favorable. The Standard states that if Britain will make further substantial concessions to Imperial sentiment it will scan the results of placing colonial securities among trustee stock. Mr Berridge (Liberal) opposes Air Lyttelton (Secretary for the Colonies) when the latter goes for re-elec-tion. Canadian newspapers emphatically favor Air Chamberlain’s policy. The German press is incredulous as to its practicability.; GREAT INCREASE ON THE WRONG SIDE. AIR CHAAIBERLAIN AT GREENOCK. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 1.3 a.ui., Oct. 9.

London, Oct. 8. The Board of Trade returns for September show that imports increased A 0,686,693 and exports decreased L'3So,Boo. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, writing to Mr Erskiue, candidate for West Perthshire, says the Ministry have unmasked their policy of unalloyed protection. Received 1.14 a.m., Oet. 9. Mr Chamberlain, at Greenock, said the Continental tariff had been utilised to create aud retain homo markets, excluding British goods under the belief that it was essential to their prosperity, with the result that our exports wore falling and theirs increasing. *> I dislike being trampled on,” ho said, “ I like to hit back. If other nations exchange,;i am no freetrader at any price.” At- present Britain was doubly injured by whacking tariffs, and the slam of foreign doors in our face, while our home markets were successfully invaded, seriously threatening tho position of British manufacturers and workmen. Free importers must explain why, if retaliation or protection is so ruinous, all geeat nations adopting it had prospered moro than Britain. If they aro able to answer that, said Mr Chamberlain, “ then my occupation is gone. I “ The policy which had proved so successful in Amorica would bo moro so when applied to a larger Empire, with sixty million whites and three hundred and fifty million colored races. We ought to be prepared to concedo all reasonably asked in order to promote closer union with our colonies, which are rapidly growing into rigorous mauhood. Tho rejection of their I offer may do irreparablo injury. With their support we should not be afraid of splendid isolation. "We must expect to make sacrifices in order to securo tho common good now aB the opportunity of renewing our youth and continuing the power and glory of tho Empire for generations.” The meeting enthusiastically rcsolvod that it had the fullest confidence in tho Government, and that it was necessary to reconsider tho fiscal policy, owing to foreign restrictions, in ordor to consolidate and develop tho Empire.

QUESTION IN FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. FREETRADERS SEEKING TO SCORE A POINT. By Telegraph—-Preo3 Association—Copyright Received 1.14 a.m., Oct. 9 Melbourne, Oct. 8. In the Federal House Mr Deakin was asked, in view of his having previously cabled to Mr Chamberlain approving of his policy, whether that approval would be extendod to Mr Chamberlain’s declarations in Glasgow in regard to the colonies not setting up new indnstries to oompete with British. The Premier replied that tho statement' contained a suggestion which would be well worthy of consideration. Mr Reid twitted Mr Deakin over the position he had been landed in over the cablegram.