BURNING THEIR BOATS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 258, 7 December 1909, Page 3

BURNING THEIR BOATS.

QCHB GREAT POLITICAL STRUGGLE. SIR EDWARD GREY OX THE SITUATION. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright London, December 5.

Sir Edward Grey, Secretary ol State for Foreign Affairs, addressing three thousand Liberals at Leith, said the country was in for the greatest fight it had experienced for generations. The . Government might have fought the Lords on the question of education, anu been justified in remaining in office, because it had saved the country great damage in South Africa, and established a scheme of army reform which had appealed to the whole country and enlisted its spirit of support by its voluntary principle. Now the fight had come; there was no choice but to fight it through, Bad lie was glad there would be no choice. When the Lords in 1884 obstructed the franchise, it recoiled, owing to the country rising in indignation. INow, however, no retreat was possible, and (here was no opportunity for repentance, The Lords had burned their boats, The Liberals had determined to assert for ever the Commons' right to be uncontrolled in regard to finance, and to assert the Liberal Government's right to hold office on fair terms, having a House of Lords respqjisive to the feeling of the country; or, if unreformed, having some mutual settled arrangement for ensuring that the will of the Commons in the long run would prevail. Referring to Lord Curzon's. idea to reform the Bouse oi Lords, by a smaller body of superior persons chosen by themselves, Sir Edward Grey added there would be no real reform unless the hereditary principle were abolished and popular election substituted. (Loud cheers.) -

A DEMOCRATIC DEMONSTRATION. AN APPEAL TO THE TAXPAYERS. London, December 5. A National Democratic League demonstration of 700 -persons, , at Trafalgar Square, -protested against the -Lords and their rejection of the Budget. Dr. Clifford and a dozen of Liberal Labor members were the duel speakers. -Many banners and an effigy of the peers were paraded. The effigy consisted of a turnip cut into the likeness of a face, -with a paper crows, and was carried on e red robed pole and labelled " the firstborn." The incident caused merriment wd booing. WINE AND TOBACCO DUTIES. ' London, December 5. The Wine and Spirit Association and the Wholesale Tobacconist Protection Association have agreed to pay the duties during the interregnum. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS. London, December 5. Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking at Preston, said the Liberal Party did not intend to undertake the burdens of government again unless the fuel lor effective powers was' given them.

CONTROL OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, •

London, December 5.

Mr. R. R. Cherry, a Liberal, in thanking his constituents for their past support, declared they would never have a loyal Empire until they were placed 'n complete control of its internal affairs.

/ PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

London, December 5.

Primate Bourne, Lord Cromer, Lord Avebury, Lord. Balfour of Burleigh, Lord Courtney, Lord Hugh Cecil, Dr. Clifford and others have issued a manifesto to the electors on the advantages of proportional representation. ATTITUDE OF LABOR PARTY. London, December 5. Mr. A. Henderson, Labor member tor Barnard Castle, speaking at Sheffield, indignantly denied taking any part with the Liberals in the election. It was only expected in 1911, and the Labor Pafty, simply from the standpoint of organisation and money, was unable in some cases to fight successfully, »nd therefore some few candidates had been withdrawn. There was no proposal from " the other aide" for a deal. Mr. Pease's suggestion implied a surrender, namely the withdrawal of all the new candidates. If the Liberals were anxious, to avoid hopeless contests they should follow the Labor party's example.

PEERS OR PEOPLE?

" DOWN WITH PRIVILEGE: UP WITH THE PEOPLE."

LABOR'S MANIFESTO.

Received December 6, 9.45 p.m. London, December 6. The Labor Party's manifesto states that the great question is whether the peers or the people are to rule. It welcomes the opportunity to prove that the feudal age is past and that the people no longer are willing to live on the sufferance of the Lords. The present system of land ownership had devastated the countryside, imposed heavy burdens on industries, cramped the development of the towns, crippled capital, and impoverished labor. The experience of the past four years had demonstrated the value of the Labor Party acting independently. The right to work had still to be won, but it was now within the range of practical politics. The poor law must be broken up and pauperism abolished, with the old-age pensions extended and increased on the present noncontributing basis. The franchise restrictions, including sex bar, must be swept away. The manifesto concludes: •'The working middle classes are still overburdened with rates and taxes. Vote for Labor candidates, the land for the people, and wealth for the wealthproducers; down with privilege, up with the people."

WILL OROOKS HURRYING HOME. 'A GREAT CHANCE FOR THE PIMPLE. THE END OF THE LORDS' POWER. < ' argill, Last Night. Mr. \T." r M.P., interviewed by a Southland reporter on the way to catch the Melbourne boat at the Bluff, said he would be back in time for the British elections, and would be in •the thick of the fight. He hoped |to Teach Home by January 10th. The earliest polling in the boroughs would not begin until the 13th, and the British elections were spread over six ■weeks. V. 'in'.was the result of the coming elections, he said, he did not think there lmd been for 200 years or more such a chance for the people. He declared the Lords wen- irresponsible, and this last act marks the end ol tneir power. It was the merest rubbish to talk of their right as a revising chamber. They had violated that principle time after time. '' If they beat us at this election," he added, "then representative government ceases to exist, and all your democratic sentiments go liy the board."