BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8011, 23 December 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

ADDRESS BY THE PRIME MINISTER. Mil BALFOUR'S I'OLI CY CRITICISED. SUBORDI.NA.TIOJV OF MILITARY TO CIVIL AUTHORITY. MILITARISM, EXTRAVAQANC E AND PROTECTION MUST BE UPROOTED.

FREE TRADE AN ALLY OF ! PEACE. Received 22, 10,42 p.m. London, December 22. Nino thousand people wore present lit the Albert Hall, and tremendous enthusiasm was manifested. Mr W. Diekerson, chairman of the Liberal Federation, presided. Sir H. Campbell-Bannorman criticised Mr Balfour's method of oxit from office, charging Mr Balfour with attempting to evade the main issue of the general election and trying to hide it behind some other issues.

Sir H. Campbell-Bannerinan proceeded to animadvert on tlio Indian Military Administration controversy, describing it an rash and tactless, adding " Our aim must be to restore that spirit of caution and vigorous commonsense which is the boast of British rule. We will be party to no step involving any invasion' of the sacrod principle recognised by each party throughout the King's realms, that of the subordination of niilitary to civil authority."

He touched briefly ok the Liberals' affection for the colonies, and their desire to bring them closer in everytiling.

Colonial matters wore, said the speaker, smooth, save in one ruffled spot, South Africa. The announcement as to stopping the importation of coolies was received with prolonged cheering. Sir Henry recapitulated liis Portsmouth speech, giving an emphatic adhesion to the agreement securing an entente with France, and manifesting his good feeliugs towards Russia and Germany. Ho advocated co-opera-tion with all nationalities in the pro. motion of civilisation, contending that frcctrade was a notable in this policy, being a guarantee of peace and a preventive of a commercial aud tariff war.

The Prime Minister recommended that as arbitration gained grouud there should be an adjustment of armaments so as to ensure a happier era. •What," said th_ speaker, "was a nobler aspiration than that Britain shall head a league of peace?" Militarism, extravagance, aud protection were three weeds growing in the same field, and they must, all bo uprooted.

The country wanted relief from excessive taxation. lu order to find the money wherewith to meet domestic needs and reforms, frcsli sources might be tapped, something being derivable from land, and something from licenses.

POPULAR CONTROL. THE IRISH QUESTION. LAND FOE THE PEOPLE. POOR LAW REFORM. , Received 23, 0.47 a.ta. Lo.vnojf, December 22. Sir H. Calupbell-Bauncriuau, continuing, said that tlio principle of self government was popular control. It was the foundation of tlic Liberal policy that the people of a district should control , and manugo tli oir schools. It was the foundation of the Liberal licensing policy; and what other principle was the foundation of their Irish policy 'i Ho asked that the domestic affairs which concerned the Irish only should, as opportunity offers, be placed in Irish hands. Up to last spring tlioy had reason to believe the late Government understood the wisdom of that policy. It gave tho country a (i.ivermuiTit pledged to place a hundred and twelve millions to the credit of the tenants, and authorised tho A iceroy to declare that in Ireland from thence forward the Government would be carried on according to Irish ideas. Tliey receded from that position, but caumJt escape the login of their own acts.

The Liberals desired th-it the Colonials and Britain should give the farmer greater freedom and security of tenure, settle the labourers on the soil, and make the land less the pleasure ground of the rich man, and more the storehouse of the nation.

Sir Henry recommended the ap. pointmcnt of a Royal Commission on •lanals and waterways, and urged the strengthening of the Loudon minimi. |>alities by a rate on ground values, lie also advocated i\ drastic modifies. I ion of the ]¥w law, mid experiment:) For the relief of the unemployed.

[ Pl'llTHEll APPOINTMENTS. Received 22, !VIH p.m. London, DeewW 32. Additional .Jnnioi; toiif* of the Treasury arejVf(- I\ Freeman - Thomas, am) Cupia,iu 0. W. Norton. The Wight Hon. Sir Horace C. Plun ■ kett lias been ro-appoiuted Vice-Presi-dent ofc the Agricultural Department, Ireland.

London, December 21. Lofd Twcedmoulh, First Ly.y,) of the Admiralty, S;. Pancras, advocated a sUw>g-, eflieiont, well*avy. Tlic late Government jhad lived sliml.v and died slimly, and, he hoped, would rise again slimly. lie hoped llio tUwnmiont would seen™ ,» minify mW the Tor** and j Xntiuiiali'st.s combined. Jh'- R, Cherry Ims been appointed AUoMey-Genevul for Ireland and Mr Redmond Biury Solicitor-General. Tin; Right Hon. Lawson Walton, K.C., j Attorney-General, speaking at Leed>i declared that Home .Rule was a more of an electioneering scarecrow. , The Liberals would forward the li-jsh Behove inaugurated under the Ityy vj'gime. Ope hundred and twenty millions had been sent to Ireland withouyKeurity jfor forwarding that 9b H> Would ocoupy Liberal stHSwtnslijp far years.

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