BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1641, 6 January 1906, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

FENCING OVER HOME RULE QUESTION. £yi telsgraph, Pj®»# A»»’n, Copyright Reoeived 9.11 p.m., Jan. 5. London, Jan. 5. Mr Gladstone, in an i lection address replying to the accusation that sbo Government intends to destroy the unity of tbe Parliament of the Empire by establishing a legislative Parliament in Ireland, says that no such proposal can be made in the Parliament about to be elected. Every step ,for tho better government of Ireland ought to be judged on its merits,

MORE SPEECHES.

Bg telegraph, Presa A&s’n, Copyright Received 11.22 p.m., Jan. 5, London, Jan, 5. Mr CbamberlaiD, speaking at Derby, received determined and continuous oppo Bition from a section of ths audience, Ultimately he abruptly oeased speaking, Fiscal reform was largely voted for. _ Mr Birrell, speaking at Bristol, saidthal any school property taken over from anybody would be paid for.

GOVERNMENT POLICY.

By telegraph, Fresa Aas’n, Copyright Received Midnight, Jan, 5. London, Jan. 5. Mr Asquith, speaking at Sheffield, said that two prerequisites of reduction of taxation were reduction of normal expenditure without weakening national defences and strengthening provision for redemption of the capital and liabilities of the State. Ho agreed with Sir Edward Gray’s remark that the attempt to utilise majority obtuined for freeirade to promote the passing of a Home Rule Bill was a piece of political dishonesty. Mr Churchill, speakiDg at Manchester, said tbe Government's duty was to inform colonial colleagues at the conference that we cannot arrange for a preferential union involving protective taxation on food, but colonials had full liberty to advance any proposal appearing to piomise moro intimate co-ordination and oloser union of parts of tie Ernpite. Doubtless precise instruction would be oiven to colonial equally with tbe Mother ; and’s representatives. Mr Haldane, in a speech in tbe city, paid a tribute to Mr Balfour in conneot’on with tho committee of defence re3trangement of the Army. Grounds might be pursued similar to Fisher’s reorganisation of the Navy. The cost of tbo Army consistent with efficiency was somewhat less than at present authorised. He declared that Sir H. Campbell Bannerman attached suoh importance to efficiency that he was prepared if necessary to find more money and more men for the promotion of efficiency, and had given him a free band in the matter. He hoped to deal with the problem comprehensively from its foundations.