BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 149, 15 June 1908, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. London, June li The Liberal newspapers declare that ihe Labor party's propositi anieiilments to the Old Age Pensions Bill would make the scheme costly and impracticable.

CONDITION OF THE LIBERAL PARTY. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. Received 14th, 4.4."i pan. London, June 14. Mr. Asqnith, Premier, speaking at the National Club, affirmed Hut the internal condition of the party was wliOiesome and sound. There were no differences requiring plastering by some artificially contrived and ambiguous formula. Still, Lilierals must aim ea?li year for larger concentration of effoit and a smaller number of Bills. The old age pensions pebeme was not, be said, hostile to existing thrift agencies, or grafting upon it of a State-aided contributory plan. He was opposed to inquisitorial examination of character, and exclusion on that account. Poor relict was temporary, awaiting an early adjustment of the poor law system.

SWAMPING SELF-RELIANCE. LORD ROSEBERY-S LUGUBRIOUS MEWS. Received Uth, 428 p.m. London, June 14. Lord Rosebery, in a speech as Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, said everything was being done politically to swamp self-reliance, and make it superfluous. It was ridiculous to Scotsmen, who had thriven by self-reliance. Their motto was "level up." The creed of modern civilisation was "level down. '•! Let the Government have a finger in every pie, probing, propping and disturbing. The result was that the nation was being taken into custody by the State. He pleaded for the mainteiance of the sterling national qualities .which had meant so much for Scotland in the past.

PREVENTION OF CRIMES BILL. Beceivcd 14th, 458 p.m. London, June 14. The Prevention of Crimes Bill, exteiltag the Borstal system, was read a second time' in the House of Commons by 133 to H. Mr. Gladstone stated thai': the Government would provide the machinery necessary for bringing evcT.r kind of good influence to bear on jm ' Oners and teach them trades, show them what fools they had been, and eijn'p them for a new start in life.