BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 155, 22 June 1908, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE ARMY SCHEME. T.ondon, June 10. she Secretary for \V5r. Mr. I*. B. Haldane. states that 145,4.".r> non-commrs-siMlcd officers anil mon have joined the territorial force out of an establishment Of 302,100. There was a marked increase of recruiting during last month. He considers this result highly satisfactory. Newspaper comments do not emlorw this optimism. The pa pen regret the refusal of (50,000 volunteers to transfer their services to the territorial force. Critics predict a shortage of IflO.wO men in the territorial army. OLD AC.K PK.Vf?KiN"«. London. June 10. Tlie President of the Board Of Trade. Mr. I). Lloyd-Oeorge, informed a deputation from friendly societies that the (internment meant to make membership of the friendly societies a qualification for old age pensions. Mr. I.lovd-Georgc has sugge-tod the adoption of the following sliding .-oaf' for pensions:—lf a man's income U Ss a week he chould receive a State }MII - i "> ;i of ss; if !K, he should receive 4s; and s" on until at 12s a week he should m-eivc

THE LICENSING Ml-1.. UOVEBNMKNT STAKING ITS FOR TUXES I'PON IT. frHE PREMIERS KIGHIXG SPEECH. Received 21st. 4.15 p.m. London. June 20. Speaking at a ina*s meeting at Birmingham in connection with the National Liberal Federation Conference. Mr. Asquith said he staked his own political fortunes, and as far as he could, the fortunes of the Government and the par! \ on the Licensing Bill. He hail been told to-day that he was foolhardy, buS his own belief was that he never did a ■wiser thing. He referred to the ceaseless propaganda conducted by the tariff reformers among the constituencies. Personally, he did not believe the tariff issue was settled by the election of lOO'l. He wondered hou Mr. Balfour'/, tarifl' formula would enable the Motherland t< give the colonies preference, considering the colonies produced only raw materi-. als and food. He declared the great oli jects of the Liberal party were to equal i*e burdens, make lives brighter, and break down the environment of squalor surrounding many lives.