BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8009, 21 December 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

PER VNITF.D PIIKBB ASSOCIATION. — COFYBIGHT.

TftE HOME RULE QUESTION.' GOVERNMENT WILL MAINTAIN THE UNION. Received 9.34 p.m. London, December 20. The Hon. Arthur Poiwouby, the Premier's private Secretary, and a candidate for Taunton, addressing the electors, said that Home Rule as introduced in 1886, and 1892 was dead, No one lie had met m the Liberal party favored either Bill.

The Right Hon. H. H. Asquith (Chancellor of the Exchequer), speaking at Queen's Hall, emphatically denied that Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man would covertly pursue a policy leading to separation and dismemberment. The Liberal majority, would, lie said, be resolutely determined to maintain the Iparamount authority of Imperial Parliament, but within those limits would seek to improve and liberalise the administration of Ireland. He concluded by appealing for a united, strong and independent majority.

THE PREMIER'S VIEWS. Received 29, 9.42 p.m. London, December 20. The Executive Committee of tho Unionist Free Trade Club has resolved that it was the duty of all Unionist free traders to do their utmost to prevent the country or the party adopting a policy involving a general protective tariff and preferential taxation of Sir Harry Campbell-Bannerman, in acknowledging the resolution passed at » great meeting under the auspices of the Merchant's Guild of Berlin, said he entirely reciprocates the desire for the establishment and maintenance of friendly feeling between tho British and German people.

SPEECH BY EX-PBIME MINISTER. London, December 19. .The Eight Hon. A. J. Balfour, addressing four thousand Unionists at Leeds, said lie did not )rish to augment, but wished to diminish the differences of party on the fiscal question. His policy should not bo pre-judged; the question of protection might be right or wrong. He bolieved, with a section of the party that was for Free Trade, not Protection, that his views oil retaliation and fiscal uniou with the colonies were I absolutely consistent with Free T/ado, and not less consistent with the views of thoso favouring somo return to the policy prevalent in America and elsewhere. Lord Rosebcry seemed to thinlc the simple status quo alone really embodied the doctrine of Free Trade, but Free Trade was n<>t a Virtue practised,as a man practises "honesty. "We practise Free Trade whou we do o.nr best to maintain and make others accept it. Retaliation is a policy whereon thero is ro different of principle among the Unionists, and they ought not allow Protection to interfere with this or other portions of fiscal reform. Preference touches a higher note than any of the others. Nobody will deny that if it is possible to obtain permanently Free Trade with the colonies for a microscopic tax on foods stuffs, that it would be a gain to all concerned. Freetraders would admit tho bonefit of ■it. In regard to the question of degree and method the colonies had not yet an advanced plan. Moreover, a duty on corn would be only a very partial solution, as there are manv of the colonies whence corn is not imported." Tliore wore many Imperial commercial aspects, which a free conference alone would reveal entirely, instead of isolated elements. Meanwhile it would bo better to suspend judgment; nothing would endanger the Imperial idea more than a rash introduction of insular ideas.

Mr Balfour declared that protection was insular or nothing; it was alien in essence and spirit to the Imperial idea. He did not deny that a general tariff would be convenient as a starting point in dealing with the foreigner, but we had no general tariff, and did not require a tariff—protective or non-pro-tective. It was a question of suasion ; threats should be kept in the" back ground. Of all men, Mr Chamberlain had done most ti foster the Imperial idea, and had taught us not merely to talk about, but to feel about the Empire.