BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8020, 5 January 1906, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

New York, January 3. President Roosevelt denies that lie expressed sympathy with Sir H. Carnp-bell-Banneriuan or any British party. London, January 3. The Fre email's Journal declares there must be no whittling of the Home Rule pledge. The Nationalists supported Sir H. Canipbell-Bannermau lieeau.se lie was a Hoinc Kuler, not because he was a Free Trader. Mr Chamberlain, at an overflow meeting, was subjected to considerable interruption. He cited the colonies' offer of a reciprocal treaty, and urged that the colonies would be able, by preference in return for the Motherland s two shilling's tax on foreign corn, to make arrangements to transfer to the Motherland their purchases. Thirty millions worth of manufactures were now drawn from foreign countries. This would mean fifteen millions in wages to the Motherland. " Some declare that the price of the transfer is too high," he continued. "I ask how they can know until we have consulted the colonics." The liight Hon. G. Wyndham (late Chief Secretary for Ireland), in an election address, said delay in regard to fiscal reform was dangerous, but inevitable, unless the electorates pro. uounccd again emphatically their unchangeable conviction that Home Rule, besides being mischievous iu principle, by the declared, will of Great Britain was outside the sphere of practical politics.

THE COMING ELECTION, A SEVERE STRUGGLE ANTICIPATED, COALITION OF LIBERALS AND LABORITES. Received Jau, [4, 10.13 p.m. London, January 1. The prospect of the coniiug struggle, especially in Boroughs, shows it will be the severest since 1885, after the suffrage was granted to the Councils, but up to the present there arc no Unionist candidates for 29 seats. The situation in this respect is opposite to that of 1900, when many Unionists had a walk-over. The Liberals have accepted 42 Labourites. The latter oppose Unionist Liberals in 31 places. Labourite candidates run with the Liberals in twelve of the localities which return two members. Tariff Reformers are fighting Free Fooders at Greenwich, South Islington, Durham, King's Lynn and Lincoln. There are ten Socialists in the field,

THE RIVAL PARTIES. Received 4,10.5 p.m. London', January 4. The Duke of Devonshire, in a letter to Mr F. Schuster, the Liberal candidate for the City of London, says:— I understand you oppose Home Rule and retain a free hand on other questions. It is of the highest importance that the Free Traders of the City should be enabled to assist their principle at this election, and I have no hesitation in wishing you success against the supporters of the policy of the Tariff League. Mr Asquith also wrote, to the effect that no community in the Kingdom was so vitally interested on so many points in the maintenance of the welltried fiscal policy. He concluded with a tribute to Mr Schuster's special qualifications as a high financial authority. Lord Hugh Cecil, speaking at Greenwich, said that Home Rule was a proposal which was most dangerous to the country's well-being, protection being the next point of ganger. Michael Davitt, speaking at Birmingham, said there would be no Redmond-Bannerman compact, as the Nationalists would continue to be independent of all English parties. " "We are fighting," said Mr Davitt, " for Home Rule, and by the aid of the Labourites mean to get it. fly Mr Chamberlain's reviving the question, unintentionally, he i.s selling the cause."

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ON HOME RULE. Deceived 5. 1.5 a.m. London, January I, Mr Sydney Buxton (Postmaster General) in the course of a speech at Holloway said he anticipated the Government would have an early tussle with the House of Lords. He added that Home Hule was not a practical (juestiou at this election. Irishmen were convinced that 011 this question the next few years must deal, not with a Home Bulc Bill, but instead of beginning at the top they must work up from the bottom step, securing necessary reforms, and granting such local Government as was possible.