SPEECH BY SIR C. DILKE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2129, 8 May 1889, Page 2

SPEECH BY SIR C. DILKE.

(PER PREBS ASSOCIATION;)

London, May 7. Sir C. Dilke, m the course of a brilliant speech at Dean Forest, said England had better follow the example of the colonies m other matters than the ballot or cloture, such as the extension ot the franchise based on age instead of property. He thought as it was they were pretty certain to follow m the colonial footsteps m the direction of religious equality, compulsory education and free schools, (which must not be pauperised schools), such as Victoria and New Zealand had. He advocated the boarding-out of pauper children and old and helpless people dependent on the State for subsistence. He opposed the landing of indigent paupers m England or hordes of people content to exist on a scale inferior to the British level. He drew attention to the system of Provident Insurance under State auspices m New Zealand, and advised following the example of tbe colonies. With regard to local option, he was not m favor of the principle being pushed to a poiut which would lead to the restriction of individual liberty, but he desired to see the abuse of drinking put a stop to. He was, m fay-or of the adoption qf a shorter term for existence of Parliament, and payment of members, and freeing candidates from the burden of election expenses. He recommended the dissolution of the Upper House, m order to carry Bills against their vetoes; approved cumulative taxation, graduated succession duties, and also a graduated property tax, but a less heavy extent, Efe supported a, higher income tax. The eight hours system, he confessed, presented a difficulty.'*' His proposal was that an attempt should be made to get the priocipal manufacturing countries of Western Europe to come to a general agreement m favor of limiting the hours of labor. Government and municipalities ought to . set an example by enforcing the principle m all renewals or extensions of copti a,cts. The time was not ripe for the compulsory adoption of the system, but it ought to be experimentally tested. He was m favor of the checks upon sweating m vogue m Victoria. The colonies, were far' m adyance of the Mother Country m, the matter of local government. The concession of Responsible Government had converted New South Wales from a dangerous condition into the most loyal country, and, from this example he argued it would be impossible to long withhold similar justice from Ireland.