THE LIBERAL POLICY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 36, 11 February 1905, Page 4

THE LIBERAL POLICY.

Statement by E »rt"Spe«te«

LONDOX, February v Earl Spencer, Liberal leader *i» Ui ■ House of Lords, in ;l letter to Mr -ft?*' rie Grant in connection with meetings in Warwickshire, say s - l thoueh the Govcramout is -*tilf jjj * ijority it ought to recognise that Us 2£ i tiou in the count r\- is now very j from what it was. The great tOft^t i fiscal reform vow dominates the 2, tion, and affects every- class cst. As long as it remains a strong ])1 a 1 form controvci-ey a serin amount of anxiety and doubt itfll : around all trade and commerce,! ji-stry can b<- in any possible in postponing the uppeal to ftie oiecW who alone are capable of putting,t 0 . mt aad settling tiiis great question." -ni letter ttlion quotes Mr. Dal four's^ jiu ULs Shiiflield speech" regarding tasatiuj jfor revenue, also the words.- "The cvi! of taxation of food within narrow limf' exagareraied beyond what reason and I justify." / • '■'- -•'

-These view*," continues Earl Spacer "arc nol the views of a. genuine free tra' tier. The danger is increased by one s*,/ ciaT proposal, made both by Mr. llaliour and Mi - . Chamberlain. -Ev,eryboßv " agreed that Colonial Conferences ;uVim>. per times and on proper questions area,]. niirable. Xo conference can settle tlw uVc-al question until the oonutry lias Wo. nouneed itself upon the matter. To <n» whether v,e favour a" conference shim). taneoutsly with t.ln> question whether -jf. approve of so-called fiscal reform-"--ten. fuses the issue. The constituencies must answer the bitter question first."'

Earl Spencer concludes by stating trith emphasis the views of the Liberals on the education question, the incidence -of <taxa tion anfl ratiug, necessity for care iv tlie settlement of South Africa, and the-ior-lnation of representative responsible Gorernmenl in (lie Transvaal, without metn. while eantiiuiiTj<r the system of dndai. tured labour beyond the obligations of existing contracts.

He proposes to enlarge the powerso| local bodies in England, to extend atrtiV proper moment the application of, the principle of self-government to Ireland, to effect trades union law reform, and,to secure economy and efficiency in thes4 lie services. (Received fl a.m.) • ■ _V< LONDON. February 10.. Earl Spencers undertaking to'fisioi Chine.se immigration after the existing contract has expired is variously coin, mented on. Some of the newspapers consider that the probable early grant of > representative (iovernnient mil interfere in any case with the redemption ofshj» pledge. [Earl Spencer and Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerrnan are regarded by •well-in-formed people, as rival candidates for tie office of Prime Minister, supposing that a Liberal Government is returned at thi general election.]