LORD SALISBURY'S ADDRESS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1420, 19 November 1885, Page 3

LORD SALISBURY'S ADDRESS.

The Premier spoke at, the National Conservative Conference, Newport, on Oct. fth. He thanked the Conservative Union for exposing the true nature of the gaudy prom se* and the seductive programme of the Lirwals. He urged his hearers tooontinue their effort* in behalf of conservatism, which he said win growing and had a glorious future. He then proceeded to enumerate the policy of the Conservative party. Referring to the disturbances in the Balkans the Premier said:—" It is no part of the duty of a British statesman to interfere in affairs in Eastern Roumelia. The Treaty of Berlin has not been frustrated, nor has the San Stofano Treaty been restored. The policy of the Government is to uphold the empire, and whenever it is possible to do so genuinely and healthily to uphold, cherish and foster strong self-sustained nationalities that have ax important bearing on the future of Europe. For the present I have hopes that the Power* will confine the disturbance within the limit of Roumelian terrtiory. Russian influence would have checked the political growth of Roumelia if the latter ocuntry had united with Bulgaria in 1876." He favored great change in the preset.t measures for local self-government. To decentralise authority in London was indispensable. Part of the new Government'* policy was that people having wealth should bear tht burden of the expenses of the country and not alone those having houses and land. The Premier in answer to a question as to what eitent the local government authority should be extended, said, "An extent ion might give more facility to the majority to do justioe to the Ministry V t'onservative traditions." He said 'this was clear. He regarded the integrity o£ the Empire above all other political oonsidertions. He favored the Imperial federation movement, but his plans in regard to the matter have not yet been tangibly framed. He believed in the closer union of England and the colonies, and said it was one of the most important questions of the future. He favored the measure for cheapening and simplifying the sale and trannfer of land. He stated Government had received returns showing that general crime in Ireland had decreased. Boycotting was amenable to order by law whiob. would be sternly enforced. Thirty-five prosecutions, he said, had already been started. Extending selfgovernment to Ireland he declared is an open question, but it is desirable as far as possible to give Ireland the same benefits as are enjoyed by the rest of the United Kingdom.