BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1672, 13 February 1906, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE POLICY IN SOUTH AFRICA. A STRONG CONDEMNATION, By telegraph, Press Alts’ n t Copyright Received 10.7 p.m., Feb. 12. London, Feb. 12. Mr Lyttelton, ia a letter to the Times, commenting on the reports of the Government meditating an abandonment of one vote one value, and substituting a system giving greater weight to the man living in the country than one living in the town, oannot bring himself to believe that a Cabinet containing good men and true patriots can in the initial plenitude of power and authority lead themselves to so weak and disastrous a policy. The late Government adopted a system after many months of free discussion in the Transvaal which showed that the general opinions of parties sharply differing on orher very material points were here agreed. No petition against the principle had been presented, and no whisper of crit'oism had been offered in the Houso of Commons’ debate on July 9ih. On the oontrary, Sir H. Campbell Bannerman distinctly approved of the electoral basis. Moreover, it was a fallacy to allege that it was devised to secure the mine owners the ascendancy, inasmuch as the number of British workmen on the Rand alone was sufficient to obliterate mine owners in an eleotion. Continuity of ooionial policy was essential, especially in South Africa, where vacillation waß universally despised. A strong, staple policy commanded the respeot and goodwill of all rac9s. The Times says that the population oensus and new demarcation of boundaries woull postpone self-government for two years. Moreover, the Commission had been working for some time on demarcation on the present basis. It must be remembered that to grant immediate responsible government was a great concession. This brought the two British parties in the Transvaal into line, but also into line against oharges sapping the foundations of British powor.

EDUCATION BILL.

I———! LABOR PARTY WANTS MEMBERS PAID.

THE IRISH PARTY’S ST4ND,

B® telegraph. Press Aos’n, Copyjigh'

Reoeived 10.23 p.m., Feb. 12. London, Feb, 12,

Mr Birrell at Halifax, referring to the Eduoa’.ion Bill, trusted that ill-nourished children would be dealt with in a generous spirit. The Labor Representation Committee’s report declares that the el&otion of twentymos of its candidates, necessitates doubling the effected societies’ subscription. The burden ought not tj be imposed at all, as the party was doing national work, and ought to bo paid out of national fund?.

The nafo ial pa ty re electing Mr ReL mood, ic rived that it war unable to enter into an a lianoa or perrna loutly support any party or Government not making national self-government of Ireland a cardinal point.