SIR CHARLES DILKE. London, May 7.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 367, 11 May 1889, Page 4

SIR CHARLES DILKE. London, May 7.

Sir Charles Dilke, in the course o* a brilliant speech at Dean Forest, said Erjgland had better follow the example of the colonies in other matters than the ballot or cloture, such as the extension of franchise, based on age instead of property. He thought, as it was, they were pretty certain to follow in colonial footsteps in the direction of religious equality, compulsory education, and free schools (which must not be pauperised schools), such as Victoria and New Zealand had. He advocated the boarding out of pauper children and old and helpless people dependant on the State for subsistence. He opposed the landing of indigent paupers in England, or hordes of people content to exist on an inferior Drutish level. He drew attention to the system of provident insurance under Slate auspices in New Zealand, and advised following the example of the colonies. With regard to local option, he was not in favour of the principle being pushed to a point which would lead \ to the restriction of individual liberty, but desired to see the abuse of drinking put a stop to. He was in favour of the adoption of a shorter term for the j existence of Parliaments, and the payment of members, and freeing of candidates from the burden of election expenses. He commended the dissolution of the Upper Houses in order to carry Bills against their vetoes. He approved of cumulative taxation and graduated succession duties, and also a graduated property tax ; but to a less heavy extent. He supported a higher income tax. The eight houis system, he confessed, presented a difficulty. His proposal was that an attempt should be made to get the principal manufacturing countries of Western Europe to come to a general agreement in favour of limiting the hours of labour. The Governments and municipalities ought to set an example by enforcing the principle in all renewals or extension of contracts. The time was not ripe for the compulsory adoption of the system, but it ought to be experimentally tested. He was in favour of checks upon the sweating system in vogue. The colonies were far :n advance of the mother country in the matter of local government. The concession of responsible government had conveited New South Wales from a dangerous condition into a most loyal country, and from this example he argued it would be impossible to long withhold similar justice from Ireland.