IMPERIAL POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 105, 24 October 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

BEMODELLIXfI THE LORDS. STATEMENT UY THE PREMIER. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, October 22. Mr. Asqiiith, in an address to the East Fife Liberal Association, said that the House uf Lords 1 rejection of the Budget was its death warrant. Its place would shortly lie taken by a body relatively smaller and relatively impartial, to which functions appropriate to a Second Chamber in any democratic country might confidently be entrusted. Nineteen hundred and eleven would live in history as the year of the greatest advance in popular government sine* the Reform Bill.

He admitted that the second part of the Insurance Bill, dealing with the unemployed, was experimental and not finaL

He would scrupulously safeguard the minority in the Home Rule Bill, and likewise deal liberally with vested interests In the Welsh Disestablishment Bill.

THE INSURANCE BILL. London, October 22. Air. Lloyd-George, speaking in London, said there had been much give-and-take over the National Insurance Bill, but it was now absolutely safe. He incidentally stated that power would be given to compel owners of insanitary dwellings to pay for the excessive sickness caused thereby. Municipalities responsible for insanitary conditions would have, to pay similarly. "We shall never be rid of slums," said Mr., Lloyd-George, "until we make them a bad speculation." "A LITTLE PREMATURE." Received 24, 12.40 a.m. London, October 23. Air. Wright, Director of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, presiding at a conference of friendly societies at Chester, said the Government statement that an agreement had been reached in regard to compulsory insurance was a little premature. No arrangement had been reached. SPEECH BY MR. BALFOUR. London, October 22. Mr. Balfour, in an address to the Conservative Working Men's Club at Edinburgh, said he would teach the rising generation that, after'national defence, they should place Imperial unity, and after that social reform. He charged the Radicals of to-day with having abandoned the theories of earlier generations and introduced simpler theories of their own.' If they examined the speeches of Mr, Lloyd-George, lor instance, they would find that he always measured the benefit accruing to one class by the amount taken from the pockel« of another class.

The worst (liat could be said against the Insurance Hill was the Prime Minister"? declaration that general contributory schemes with State assistance might do for d'ermany, but were unsuited for the national genius of Britons. The Hill provided for the lusty wageearner, but the abjectly poor had scant Oovcrnnient treatment. Mr. Balfour condemned the Government proposal for the application of the closure in order (o pass the Bill before the end of the year. HOME RULE QUESTION. London, October 22. J. H. Lonsdale. Unionist member for Armagh, speaking "at Bolton, asserted that Home Rule would produce the greatest struggle since the Civil War. The men of tlie North of Ireland were equal to any army England could put in the field, and were determined not to sell rights and liberties without a struggle. THE IMPOTENT PEERS. THE WAV CLEARED FOR HOME Rl/LE. Received 23, 10 p.m. London, October 23. Mr. Redmond, at Baltinglas, declared that English Ministers in the past had always had to consider how to placate the Lords in framing the Home Rule Bill. They were no longer hampered now. Tt was only necessary for it to pass the House of Commons to become law, in spite of the Lords. The forthcoming Bill, he said, would be satisfactory to Nationalists. The Irish party had no intention of killing the Insurance Bill, adding: "We will amend and will pass it."