BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8027, 13 January 1906, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR. Received 13, 12.13 a.m. London, January 10. Mr Balfour, speaking at Manchester, said: "If we remain passive, a system of colonial protection will steadily grow. We ouglit to further any arrniimoments that will diminish the evil results of that condition of things Ii would be more easy to arrange a closer commercial connection with the Mother L.iud and the colonies now than if, in our own blindness, wo deferred foing so for an indefinite number of years," MR ASQUITH ON TAXATION. THE COLONIES AND THE TARIFF. Received 13,12,31 a.m. . London, January 12. Mr Asquith, speaking at Perth, said that owing to Tory extravagance, thera would be no remission on taxation nutil the expenditure was reduced, iif more adequate provision made for the redemption of the national debt. The Colonies, he continued, must understand that the Government cannot raise the cost of British food and diminish the remuneration of the laborer to a loner standard of living. It was expected the Colonies would reply that they cannot admit the produce of the most formidable manufacturing nation of the \#>rlJ on level "terms with their own industries. Sir H. C. Bannernian's opponent is prostrated with influenza. Under medical orders he withdraws from the contest. THE REIGN OF DEMOCRACY. THE QUESTION OF PAUPERISM. London. January 11. Mr John Burns, speaking at Battersea, declaced the reign of democracy had just commenced. The Government intended to deal with pauperism. While a single able-bodied man or woman was in the workhouse it was a reflection on the State and individual. Sir H. Campbcll-Bannerman, speaking at Chester, declared that the Government was bound by the Chinese contracts, and must obey the law. The future responsibility of the question would rest with a Transvaal Legislature. C. B. ON THE CHINESE QUESTION. SERVITUDE CANNOT BE TOLERATED. IN BRITISH DOMINIONS. 'Received 13.12.11 a.m. London, January 12. Sir Henry Campbcll-Bannerman, speaking at Liverpool, quoted the approval of President Roosevelt's refusal to allow Hawaii to become the territory, if developed, of servile Chinese labor immigrants. They must be fit to assume the duties of full American citizenship before so doing. ■Sir Henry, continuing, said that if representative Legislature desired Chinese iu South Africa "we would not desire to meddle, but Chinese labor under conditions bearing the taint of servitude cannot be tolerated in the King's dominion. The Balfour Governinept must bear the responsibility of that villainous system." It was too bad, he said, for them to denounce the present Government even if they blundered in trying to get rid of the evil.