BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1377, 11 February 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

A MANIFESTO. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Received 9,17 p.m., Feb, 10. London, Feb. 10. Earl Spenoer, in a manifesto in the shape of a letter to Mr Grant, member of the House of Commons, in connection with political meetings in Warwickshire, says that although the Government still have a majority, they ought to recognise that their position in the oountry is very different. The great topic of fiscal reform dominates the situation, and affects every clasß and interest, and as long as it remains a matter of strong platform centroversy a serious amount of anxiety and doubt hangs round all trade and commerce. No Ministry is in any possible way justified in postponing the appeal which alone is capable of putting to the tost and settling the great question. The manifesto then quotes Mr Balfour’s words at Sheffield regarding taxation and revenue, also the words, “ The evils of taxation of food within narrow limits are exaggerated beyond what reason and logio justify.” Received 11.10 p.m., Fab 10. London, Feb. 10.

Earl “Spencer, continuing, said these were not the views of a genuine freetrader. The danger was increased by one special proposal made both by Mr Balfour and Mr Chamberlain. Everybody agreed that colonial conferences at proper times and on proper questions were admirable. No conference could settle the fiscal question until the country pronounced upon the latter. To essay whether we favor a conference simultaneously on the question whether we approve of the so-called fiscal reform coafuses the issue. Constituencies must answer the latter question first. He concluded by emphasising Liberals’ views on education, incidence of taxation, rotiDg, necessity of care in the settlement of South Africa, promotion of representative and responsible government without meanwhile continuing the systdm of indentured labor beyond obligations of existing contracts. He proposed to enlarge the powers of. local bodies in England, extension at the proper moment of the application of the principle of selfgovernment to Ireland, trade union law reform, economy, and efficiency of services.