BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9127, 23 April 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE MANCHESTER CONTEST.

SPEECH BY MR LLOYD _GEORGB.

Press Association —Copyright, London, April 22.

Mr Lloyd-George, speaking at Manchester, predicted old age pensions within 12 months. He denied that the Liberals were abandoning their programme of advanced social reform in order to win back, according to the suggestion which had been made, the confidence of the country. If they did that they would win the contempt of the country. He did not believe Manchester, standing on the principle of 1906, would sell them in 1908. The defeat of Mr Churchill would be a blow to Free Trade. He added that Free Trade was the Alpha, not the Omega, of the Liberal policy, which would be built thereon. They must be careful not to remove their foundation. He emphasised the need of courage to combat the monopoly of privilege and obstructiveness of vested interests, whether in regard to the education question or the liquor trade. HOME RULE. The Standing Committee of the Irish League in Great Britain has recommended the Nationalists to vote for Mr Winston Churchill, on the ground that the latter had declared on Mr Asquith’s authority, that Home Rule in the sense of Mr Redmond’s resolution is to be submitted to the electors by the Government at the next general election. The Standing Committee of the Irish League in Dublin communicated this instruction of the Standing Committee of the League in Great Britain before the latter issued the above recommendation, signed by Messrs Redmond and T. P. O’Connor. LETTER FROM MR BALFOUR. Mr Balfour, in a letter to Mr Hicks, predicting that he will win, says: 1 ‘ The fact that the President of the Board of Trade should find his own powers insufficient to defend the seat, and that the new Chancellor of the Exchequer should be driven to come to his assistance is an unwilling tribute to Mr Hicks’ eloquence and to the Party’s enthusiasm, which any candidate might envy. The more members of the Government explain their use of political power the less likely they are to retain it. ” Commenting on the attitude of Unionist Free Traders, Mr Balfour adds: “Such divisions are wasting maladies to great organisations. The evil they are doing will be increased by any attempt to disguise the resolve of the vast majority of the party to deal with the fiscal question. My hope for the complete unity of the Unionists is based upon a growing conviction that they will all ultimately see the fiscal system broken down from every standpoint, including Peel’s and Gladstone’s. Then the alternative proposals will have a fair hearing from the small section of Unionists who are still |dreading a change, though these may meanwhile stand aloof. lam confident that Mr Hicks will begin the restoration to Unionist principle of a great community which once was, and again will be the strength and glory of the Unionist cause. DIVIDED COUNSELS. Received April 28, 8.34 a.m. London, April 22. Roman Catholic Priests in Manchester resent the Irish League’s manifesto. The Bishop of Salford appeals to Roman Catholics to vote against Mr Churchill, on the grounds of the education policy of the Government. The Times estimates that only 250 Irish will vote for Churchill.

THE LABOUR PARTY,

AND FOREIGN POLITICS

Received April 23, 8.34 a. in

The Independent Labour Conference denounced Government for entering into an agreement with Russia, thereby sanctioning infamous

tyranny. The Conference, standing, enthusiastically cheered the Russian Socialists, and declared Viscount Morley’s methods in India were as bad as those of Russian Bureaucrats. A CONSERVATIVE OPINION. Received April 23, 80. a.m. London, April 22. Sir Acland Hood, M.P., speaking at Wellington, declared that Mr Churchill was not entitled under the constitution to pledge the Cabinet unless it collectively adopted a given policy on behalf of the whole party.