BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8044, 5 February 1906, Page 2

BRITISH ELECTIONS.

MR BALFOUH NOT YET SECURE Received 4, 1.21) p.m. London, February 3. The "Daily News" says there is a strong prospect of the Liberals contesting the City against Mr Balfour. UNIONIST LEADERS CONFEK. Heceivcd •!, 129 p.m. London, February 3. Mr Balfour and Mr Chamberlain dined together, and discussed the Unionist party's future.

DISORGANISED UNIONIST PARTY. BALFOUR'S OPPORTUNITY TO RE-UNITE HIS FORCES. Received 4, 4.29 p.m. London, February 3. The " Standard" says if Mr Balfour accepts a general tariff as part of the Unionist policy, it is possible to reunite the party ou a constructive basis. Harmony depends on Balfour's willing. ness to advance. EXTREME TENSION. THE STRENGTH OF THE PARTIES. MR LONG SUGGESTED AS LEADER. Received 5,12.45 a.m. London, February 4, As an evidence of the extreme tension between the Tariff Reformers and the Balfourites and the outcome of the uncertainty as to the relative strength, in the House of Lords and House of Commons, there are heated discussions in the daily and weekly newspapers concerning the leadership. The Chamberlainites are threatening to decline the Party whips. The Hod. W. H. Long is suggested as a possiblo leader. [The Right Hon. W. H. Long has been a member of the House of Com. mons for twenty years. Ho was Parlia. mentary Secretary to the Local Gov. eminent Board, 1880-92; President of the Board of Agriculture '95-1900j was appointed President of the Local Government Board in 1900.]

SPEECHES BY CABINET MINISTERS. THE LIBERALS' IDEAL. SELF-GOVERNMENT FOB SOUTH AFRICA. Received 4, I 2il p.m. loxiw, February 3. The " Standard " says tlint the Hon. H. 11. Asquith, Chnncellor of the Exchequer, and (lie Hon. John Morley, Sccrclary of Stale for India, addressing a mcetiiig in the Town Hal!, declared (hat Mr Chamberlain's proposal sought (o create a new bond of Imperial Union, consisting of a network of fiscal cobwebs, while the Liberal ideal implied self-government, and self.development in fiscal matters and all other matters.

They won- confident an early concession of full responsible self-govern-ment would gradually efface racial distinctions in South Africa, and result in tin- combination and concentration of the common interest of tho community to which Boer and Briton belonged.