Mr Lloyd-George

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 5, 25 May 1914, Page 5

Mr Lloyd-George

STIRRING SPEECH AT IPSWICH. LIBERALS FIGUTLXG FOR LIBERTY OF THE PEOPLE. AGAINST A LAWLESS ARISTOCRACY By Cable—Press Assoc: ution—Copyright I Received 24, 5.5 p.m. London, Hay 23. Mr. Lloyd George, addressing mx thoti- [ sand people at Ipswich, said the present j election was critical in the country's 'history, hence his breaking the rule

against Cabinet Ministers meddling in ■by-elections. He .described Mr. Bonar Law and Mrs. Pankhurst as anarchist leaders, defying all authority, each in his or her own way. ' The question before the country was not Home Rule or Welsh Disestablishment, ,bnt that of representative government, which the Tories were endeavoring by a deliberate conspiracy to destroy. If Mr. Masterman were returned the verdict would resound through all ages as a great blow for freedom. The Tories were fighting for oligarchy, through anarchy. The question was: Were the liberties of the people to be destroyed 'by aristocratic lawlessness J England had the richest soil under the sun, yet, with £40,000,000 rent rolls, the producers were living in poverty and wretchedness. But the Liberals wouid put that right in a year or two. Referring to old-age pensions, he asked, AVho is paying for them? A voice: The super-tax.

Mr. Lloyd-George: Yes, and why should not a man with too much contribute something towards those with too little?

The rich, he continued, complained of the super-tax, but those with incomes of £25,000 per annum would haxe £21,000 left after tflie super-tax, and the 'latter would keep 137 old people from misery and humiliation. The super-tax on £IOO,OOO per annum would keep six hundred out of the workhouse. Similarly, the death duties, would maintain thirty thousand people for a year. His Budgets were "luck-sharing Budgets." The Insurance Act was a great repairing institution, and a good investment. Ipswich was getting £21,000 in pensions, £35,000 yearly from insurance, and from the Budget £14,000. He hoped Ipswich would send a message of hope to Ireland and the whole democracy of Britain, for "Blessed is the nation that considered the poor."