BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8017, 2 January 1906, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE COMING ELECTION, Received 31, 5 p.m. ■ Losoo.v, December 30. Lords Castletown and Winborne have joined the Liberals. There will he 17 triangular fights a' the general election. The Tariff Reform Lqagues Trade Union branch has issued a manifesto setting forth that the chief question at. the elections will be that relating to the " unemployed," which is largely due to the unrestricted importation of goods, crowding our manufactures out of their legitimate home market. It urges the rc-adjustincut of the fiscal system so as to give the unemployed, as far as possible, an opportunity of making the goods needed for consumption in Britain.

MR BALFOUR ON THE SITU A-i TION. I Received, 31, 1.59 p.m. London, December 30. Mr Balfour had a great meeting at Queen's Hall, London, He snid that Sir H. Campbeil-Banncrman's policy concedes Howe Rule, though avoiding the phrase. To give Irishmen the control of Irish affairs by creating an administration responsible to an Irish elected body must, said Mr Balfour, end in separation. The Home Rule cause was such an intolerable situation, owing to friction and constant class interest rendering the British Parliament so impotent that even separation was more tolerable. The country must decide if it would have Home Rule or fiscal reform. The latter would be the first great question the Unionists would tackle when returned to powor. With regard to education, Mr Balfour emphasized that children must receive a kind of religious education if their parents desired. He was convinced that London would remain faithful to Imperialism.

THE PREMIER EXPLAINS HIS TOLICY. London, December 31. Sir H. Campbell-Banncrnmn, speaking ntDumfermlinc, said tlial retaliation involves taxation of food and raw material, besides embodying some of the worst disadvantages of protection. It lacks the advantages consistent with an intelligible policy, and affords 110 guarantee against protection. Mr Chamberlain offered an Empire based 011 food taxes, and an industrial system cockered with tariffs, But, added Sir Henry, beware of a tie which may prove burdensome to the Motherland, leading her to complain to the colonic:of having placed millstones round her neck. Replying to hecklers, Sir H. Cainp-bell-Bunuerman stated I hat he did not favor granting a separate or independent Parliament for Ireland. The only legislative body for Ireland lie crcr suppVrtcd was intended to be subordinate to the Imperial Parliament. The women ought toi be allowed to help in the solution of social questions. He 11 Popish or Sectarian University for Ireland.

MR CHAMBERLAIN'S VIEWS. Received, 1, 9.11 a.m. London, Mr Chamberlain, speaking ut llirm-1 ingham, said that Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman's policy was the old Newcastle programme, omitting the reference to the Houso of Lords. He suggested that Mr Redmond should be squared into consenting to put Home Rule on the shelf, if the Government granted a Catholic. University for Ireland, and were allowed to deal a: they pleased with the Loyalist minority, and control the Irish policy. It was, Mr Chamberlain contended, a political crime to issue so hastily and prematurely a despatch like that of Lord Elgin's, which was so loosely and vaguely worded that it was impossibh to understand it. Whatever were th» : merits of the Chinese labor question, i was one that the colonies, and not Britain, should decide, unless the lin 1 penal Government meant to inform tin self-governing colony that " AVe oub allow you to decide in accordance witl ou- prejudices and our ideas," That would prove h fatal game and involve tin 1 loss of South Africa. If the Government 1 meant to leave the colonies to decide ' then the despatch was a mere chv 1 tioncering handbill. . j

Mr Chamberlain added thai Ir greatly feared the liseal question wouJ be complicated with numberless irrelc vnnt issues. He contended that tl? free importer* were the real protctionists, their designs being to protel foreigners in our markets. In jss) our imports from Germany, Holiaiiil and Belgium were 2ili exports 31 millions. In li)o t our import* were 52.1 millions, while the eiporh! were still 31 millions. That was tIJ result of Prince Bismark's higj, taril' excluding British goods ««d sccuriuj to the Hermans bojh the German anl British markets. Mr Cliamberlaii said he did not desire protection, bit the restoration of an equality of conditions. British trade with the Coloniu in a decade increased by six million, while foreigu exports to the Colonic increased to 30 millions. Under the* circumstances he considered it woul be better for us to accept the Colouia oft'er of reciprocity.

Bill EDWAIiD (illiJY SPEAKS. Deceived, 1, it.7 a.m. London, December 3.1. Sir Edward Grev, speaking at Bo mont, said the Liberals were lightir tins election on free trade, mid (hi there would be no Utile Hi without another spoeiul mandate fro: the people POLIfiCAL .HONORS. The following political honours ha: been conferred: —Lord Kdinond Fit luauricc, Sir Arthur Hayler, the Ifo l'hilip I;. Stanhope, the Ut. Ko( Charles Hemphill, Sir James Joints and Mr C, H. Wilson. Cuminoners, ail Sir W, II have been raised I tho Peerage. Messrs. Kdiunnd Robert mm, Thorn* Burnt, md Henry L:d>ouchero ai> among ei|.ht new l'rivy Couneiilors. The eventive of liie United Lit Leagje ii Untain recommend Jrisi voters to In their utmost to secure tt discomtilire of tho Unionists and o support tie labourites if thpy are Hour lvulers. Mr (Jliunberlnin, in supporting M r , uanditntHi'o for Knsl Brad' lord stiLM that two sliillinifs a quarter on foriy Jtp ra no { \, e , o "Vtj niß W fo * preference »n ;l' a » ufai ' tuM3 t ' u ' greatto! JoU | ( j gj w a# seoU nty, twtMaigm ( rai di».t/ oU ld eommaud uarkets.