BRITISH SOCIAL PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 242, 6 October 1908, Page 2

BRITISH SOCIAL PROBLEM.

MITIGATING THIS GLARING ANOMALIES. hfI'EECH BY THE PREMIER. Received October 5, 10.40 p.m. Londou, October o. Mr. Astjiiilh, Prime Minister, addressing 4000 p'-tijilo at Earlston, Berwickshire, said cite 1.i.ul i|uesiion wan only a j>nrt of a wider and more complex social problem of lio\v to mitigate glaring anomalies of modern society, whilst also stimulating ami not stilling individual energy and initiative. The Government was compelled by exigencies of political machinery to proceed piecemeal with the work of reform. Old-age pensions were only a slop Inward a comprehensive and complete dcali-.ig with tile allied problem concerning workers, Received October 5, 11.,18 p.m.

Mr. Asqnitli. continuing, said that under existing economic conditions we would never wholly get rid of unemployment, lint wise legislation could reduce its area and make permanent provision against extraordinary emergencie-. By the Licensing Bill the Gov"'eminent ho|>ed to diminish the facilities for intemperance; by land legislation they sought to cheek the efflux of ipopulation from the country to tjhetowns. He defended the Scot tish Land Bill as sound in principle.