BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8018, 3 January 1906, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS. PEK UKITKI) PKKBB ASSOCIATION.— COFYBItiIIT.

Received 2,9.10 p.m. London, January 2. The Hon. A. Lj itleton (late Colonial Secretary) in his olcction address says that the need of fiscal reform is growing, and that it lias become more and more plniu that the great self-govern-ing Colonics strongly farour preference to and from the Motherland. Prudence and business foresight, equally with, patriotism, demand that every effort should be made to moet this desire. He adds: —" I strongly advocate an investigation into the subject in a conference with the colonies, and that the investigators should approach the task with a sincere resolve to advance Free Trado within the Empire. I am entirely in agreement with Mr Balfour as to the wisdom of taking power to impose retaliatory duties, and I am inclined to believe m a good starting point for a; low uniform duty, for revenue purposes on imported mannfactures. After condemning Home Rulo as a side wind, he declares that as tlic late Government was pledged to abide by the decision of an elected and really representatire legislature for the Transvaal, such as is now being formed, the temporary halt in the recruitment of Chinese seems unimportant. With this exception lord Elgin's decision was in general harmony with the late Government's policy. '

Recoived 29,10.47 p.m. Mr Chamberlain, in his election address, charges the Government with peeking by tortuous methods to compass the disruption of tho Unitec' Kingdom; also with dangerous parsimony in connection with national defence. He adds that a commercial arrangement with the Colonies will be the first item of the Unionists' future constructive programme, retaliation being the second. The first will increase the price of bread in the slightest degree, but it will open an immense new market and cement Imperial relations and aims; while tho second will secure employment at fair wages, and the defence of trade against unfair competition. It will not raise prices, being defensive and not protective, nor will it be inconsistent with the true spirit of free trade. Mr Sydney Buxton (Postmaster General), in his election address, says the Irish question still demands attention and solution, and the War Office must be reformed, He also mentioned other pojnts in Sir H. Campbell Bannerman's Albert Hall speech, and amongst these are, lie considers, some questions wherewith he feels sure the Government will deal if given an opportunity. The order and method of handling them will depend on the result of the olcction, and on the matured consideration of the Liberal Progressive Party as a whole.

THE IRISH LABOR COALITION. 2, 11,(5 p.m. J x-. London, January 2. Mr Miehac) Davitt stumps England in suppmi'M the Independent Labor candidal t's;- There are fifty of these, and it is ..understood Mr Keir Hardie hopes to secure the return of one-half, in which case, uoloss given a |conimanding majority, the Liberals must reckon with the Irish Labor coalition.

! MR BALFOUR ON CHINESE LABOR. lleccived, 2,11,10 p.m. London, January 2. Mr Balfour, addressing a meeting of two thousand peoplo at Leamington in support of the Hon. A. Lyttelton, #as I frequently interrupted by a number of the electors who were sonsitivo as regards the Chinese labor question. He dealt chiefly with this question, and described us " foolish and atrocious falsehoods," the statements that the Labor Ordinances occluded British workers from a profitable field of employment, and that Chinese labor in the Transvaal was equivalent to slawry. He also characterised the propaganda on this subject as " political hypocrisy," for now that the bye. elections had been won on the cry of "slavery," and the Government were in oilice, tiiere was no intention to prevent the Colonies from carrying on what was called slavery.

Received 2,11.17 p.m. London, January 2. Continuing, Mr Balfour, when incidentally mentioning Mr Chamberlain's admirable speech of Saturday last, making special reference to the importance of Colonial markets, was warmly cheered. Mr Balfour added: " I do not belong to a party hearing the Colonies express a desire for closer union with the Motherland, yet closing its cars and muttering shibboleths about what it erroneously describes as Free Trade, for, as regards British industries, I am in favour of anything which secures us greater freedom of trade with the Colonies, and of everything giving us the greatest power to diminish the lualifieent influence of those growing tariffs which are threatening to throttle British trade in 'the large tracks of the civilised world.

THE DUKE OF DEVO.VSHUiE'S OI'INIOX. Loxuon, January 1. The Duke of Devonshire, in a letter to the Hon, Arthur Elliot, says it is highly improbable the Government will risk the introduction in the next Parliament of a measure for the establishment of an Irish legislature, ami that if there is still a danger of sueli a measure it is in the remote future. He considers the issue on the question of free trade or protection to be paramount. Under cover of Mr Balfour's appeal to his party to sanction some undefined departure from the existing system, the Tnrilf League was vigour, niisly agitating for more extreme measures, intended not merely to dnnv the Colonies closer, hut, avowedly, to protect Home manufactures and workmen from foreign competition ; in fact Mr Balfour's admission at Leeds was that his followers were justified in resisting those feature* of protection wWtih he, Mr .Balfour, never accepted. We urged the Unionist free traders to ike such ttctiou to prove that the Unionist party, whothor In office or in 1 (■position, were still not committed to ■ retrograde policy by I whomsoever 1