HOMELAND QUESTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2011, 19 March 1914, Page 6

HOMELAND QUESTIONS.

LORD ROCHDALE'S VIEWS. There arrived in Wellington yestor* day, by the Maunganui from Sydney, Lord llochdale, managing director of the great woollen firm of Messrs. Kelsall and Kemp, Ltd., of Rochdale, England, who is visiting Australasia principally in connection with his business. In the course of an interview yesterday, Lord Ro'chdalo referred to the- Ulster situation, whioh -ho was inclined to. think was much more serious now than when he left England. Tho pourparlers between the parties had como to nothing, and there was no doubt now about ..the gravity of the position. Regard-, ing tho possibility of a general election, he thought Tf this was granted thero : would bo no guaranteo that .the issue would bo confined by tho Unionists to tho Home Rule question. Other matters would be introduced, and there would he nothing to show that the result of the election was a truo indication of tho feeling of tho people' on tho Homo Rule question. The electors were interested in the Insurance- Act, free trade, and tariff reform, and land and labour questions, so that it would be hard to tic thei issue to one thing. Lord Rochdale said that tariff reform was still a burning question in tho Old Country, though the Unionists were disposed to whittlo tho scheme from what it was when first introduced by Mr. Joseph Chamberlajn. Food taxes had gone by tho board, and tariff reform had become an almost purely, domestic question, as far as its direct effects , were concerned. Lord Rochdale is a strong advocate of compulsory military training, despite tho fact that he is ; a Liberal Peer, fin this respect he differs from many of his party. Ho is naturally much interested in the Territorial schemes of Australia- and Now Zealand, and is in favour of tho introduction of a similar scheme in England. "You may find tho scheme cspensivo,"..ho said, "but you will find that it will pay for itself over and over aeain, in improved physique, better discipline, and hotter citizenship. I am convinced of it. and I only wish wo could get it in England. With our present Territorial system we are doing splendid work. and.the Gnvcrnmont is getting excollcnt value for tho money."