BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9160, 1 June 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. Received May 81, 10.28 a.m. London, May 30,

Mr Austen Chamberlain, at the annual meeting of the Liberal Union Club deprecated the allegation that fiscal reform would necessarily cause cheap food or work for all, or prevent the fluctuations of trade. What the reformers were justified in claiming was that if the fiscal system was reformed there would be more work for British people, a greater 'demand for labour, and better conditions in the labour market.

Presiding at a Liberal-Unionist Club dinner tendered to.Mr Balfour at the Hotel Cecil, the Marquis of Lansdowne, after “The King,” gave the toast of President Falleries, remarking that the good understanding between the two countries initiated by the Unionist Government had stood the test of time and promised to stand. It had found favour with the people be■cause it made for the greatest of all British interests —peace.

Mr Balfour’s speech was a strong criticism of the Government's domestic legislation, which he denounced as an expedient to prevent the losing of bye-elections. With a view to showing the Government’s inconsistency, Mr Hugh Lea elicited from Mr Asquith that 28 temporal and 33 spiritual Peers had been created since 1905.