TARIFF REFORM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2509, 24 May 1909, Page 5

TARIFF REFORM.

IMPERIAL FISCAL UNION. 2sOTABLE SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR. (' 'United Press Association —Copyright. (Received May 23, 4.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, addressing the Women’s Unionist and Tariff Reform Association at St. James’ Theatre, declared that there was a universal impression^among all classes in all parts of the country that tariff reform had got to come, and "was coming. It was, he said, impossible to continue piling direct taxation on small sections of the community, and heaping directtaxation on one or two articles of general consumption. If thus inevitably driven to some kind of general tariff, it would he folly .not to use it for safeguarding our trade and uniting Britain more closely to the colonies. He affiimed that the present system cannot be maintained, and that if abandoned, it must be in the direction of a system enabling Britain to do what the- colonies ask. He urged the necessity of sympathy and imagination in regard to Imperial finance and Imperial policy. He dealt with the vital necessity imposed on the Empire by forces, slowly ’out surely shaping themselves m various parts of the world, to organise Itself in consciousness of common needs, destinies, and ‘ perils. The Motherland must show the colonies that sympathy with their aims and methods which goes beyond the mere production of a certain number of ships and guns, and must unite an feel•;nfr the common interest of everybody engaged in commercial and mdustna. work He added: “Th? colonies demonstrate a desire for the fiscal union of the Empire. Are we. when driven o •adopt a system lending itself to .preference, going to refuse the prefeience within o iv' reach?” It would bo nation•a! madness to pursue such a policy, an V H t- b’p country