PREMIER SPEAKS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8342, 31 January 1913, Page 8

PREMIER SPEAKS

GREAT SOCIAL REFORMS THE UNCHALLENGED COMMAND OF THE SEA. TORTUOSITIES AND GYRATIONS OF UNIONIST PARTY. GREAT BRITAIN’S FISCAL POLICY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 30, 9.55 p.m.) (LONDON, January 30. The Prime Minister, Mr H. H. Asquith, speaking at Levin, said that the present Government had placed on tho Statute Book two of the greatest social reforms, namely, old ago pensions and national insurance, ever enacted. Tho Government had also provided for the maintenance of the unchallenged command of the sea without adding one penny to the national debt. They had actually diminished the country’s capital liabilities to a larger extent’ than any of heir predecessors without clogging the industrial machinery. Relations with the overseas dominions were never more cordial. Tlio colonies were nobly co-operating in a scheme of common defence.

Mr Asquith said it was obvious that tlie Unionists had abandoned Chamberlainism.

Tho recent tortuosities and gyrations of tho Unionistic party made it difficult to grasp their present policy. Mr Asquith added that no effective colonial preference could be possible without food duties.

Groat Britain had nothing to gain, but everything to lose, by changing her fiscal policy. In reply to a question as to whether he desired the taxation of land values, Mr Asquith said the matter was being considered in the Land Bill, _ but he was unable to disclose its provisions at the present moment.