THE CRISIS IN BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 264, 14 December 1909, Page 2

THE CRISIS IN BRITAIN

A FORMER TAKIFPITE PROMISE. ME. BALFOUR'S SILENCE. F j Cable.—Prei» Association —Oopyrqjftl Received 13, 0.40 pjn. London, December 13. Liberal speakers emphasise Mr. Balfour'* silence regarding the former tariffite promise to restore to the working classes, remission of Uiution on sugar, tea, tobacco and coffee, whatever money might be raised from the taxation of corn and meat. : i A BINDING STATEMENT. Received 13, 0.40 p.m. London, December 13. Mr. Winston Churchill (President of the Board of Trade), in his Oldham address, eaid that Mr. Asquith's statement that no Liberal Government would assume office under conditions prevailing heretofore is binding upon ever.v official and unofficial Liberal, "If you support us," he said, "the consequence* of that statement cannot fail to emerge in action immediately after the elections are concluded." HOME RULE ANNOUNCEMENT. NATIONALISTS NOT ENTHUSIASTIC Received IS, 9.20 pjn. London, December 13. The Times' Dublin correspondent reports that Mr. Asquith's pronouncement regarding Home Rule has provoked no marked enthusiasm among toe Nationalist Party. This week will decide to whit extent the pronouncement fulfi'i Mr. Redmond's condition, and -whether a further guarantee is required. OBLIGATIONS OF LABOR CANDIDATES. Received 13, 9.40 p.m. London, December 13. Tlie Durham Miners' Association Kara decided that lu future all its candidates must run in connection with the Labor ; Party. ; LABOR M.P. RETIRING. 1 Received 13, 9.40 p.m. ; London, December 13. Mr. Richard Bell, M.P., retires owing 1 to the decision of the executive of the ; Amalgamated Society of Railway Ser--1 vants in reference to officials, and the '■ IJtrbv Trades Council disowning him for ' refusing to sign the Labor Party's constitution. A GREAT DIFFERENCE. Received 13,11.35 p.m. Condon, December 13. Colonel Socly (Under-Secretary for the Colorjjes), speaking at Uverton and dl«li "■"ins the details of their formation and election, argued that there wat a great difference between the second chambers of New Zealand, Canada and Australia and the House of Lord*.

"A LIVING CORPSE IN A GILDED CAGE." Received 13, 11.86 .p.m. London, December 13. Lord Portsmouth, in a letter, says } a cannot support the pandering to snobbery and jobbery maintained by the lords, who were hut a "living corpse in a gilded cage." The Peers who would wish to represent their own districts were acting as a corrupting bait (or the party doles of the wealthy with demo* cratic professions on their'lips and arU. tocratic aspiration in their hearts. They were a fraud. He concluded: "The nation is relying on a second chamber which Is a sham. I should prefer to abolish this and elect a senate." THE ÜBIQUITOUS SUFFRAGEi'TES. London, Deoember 12. Prior to Mr. Asquith's meeting three hundred and fifty stewards scoured the hall for suffragettes'. Several were discovered behind curtains and in the orsan loft. A VIGOROUS STATEMENT. London, December 12. The Nonconformist and Anti-Socialist Union ban issued a vigorous statement of its aims and claims in the present crisis. MR. BALFOUR'S MANIFESTO. London, December 12. Mr. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, is auHViing from over-fatigue and a severe cold. He wrote his manifesto in a sick room. Mr. Bn I four will not make lih first speech till after the -New Year. The doctors insist on hie) taking a rest Mr. Win»t»n Churchill, speaking at Oldhniti, characterised Mr. Balfour's manifesto as'" no more than a flat, mild, stale, muddy, discouraging beverage, handed-to a peculiarly thirsty party." " Mr. Balfour, he added, " made an exhibition of himself at the beginning of the year when he ran about the country with March lmron aitd- April fools, endeavoring to create a navy panic." IMPERIAL UNION. MR. CHAMUERLAIN ON THE PRLMIEK. London, December 12. Mr. Chamberlain, in the course of his speech, declared that he profoundly differed from Mr. Asquith, but the Premier had conducted his campaign like a gentleman. Mr. Chamberlain added that it was remarkable there was not a word in the Premier's speech either upon na- - tionnl defence or the navy, and not t word upon the methods whereby a closer intercourse and an alliance were to be promoted between ounelves and our kinsmen beyond the seas. Yet Imperial union was one of the moat vital questions of the future, and one of the most vital powers that influenced otr race, MR. WILL CROOKS CONFIDENT. Melbourne, December 13. Mr. Will Crooks, M.P., is confident that the elections will give Mr. Asquith i good majority for the Budget ana the reform of the House of Lords. THE IRISH QUESTION. London, December 12. Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State For Foreign Affairs, speaking at Alnwick, mid the Irish question would never be solved without Home Rule. He added Hint he favored a Second Chamber il Iti imposition had moral force behind it.