BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7957, 6 February 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

MR NORTON. Received Fobrunry 5, 8.42 a. in. LONDON, February 4. ■Mr Norton, a member of the Houao of Commons, baa succeeded Mr Thomas as Junior Lord of the Treasury. THE EDUCATION BILL. "SUCH. A CURSE AS CAN BE ACCEPTED." Received February 5, 9.25 o.ni. LONDON, Februaryy 5. The Archbishop of Canterbury, in a letter to a correspondent, expresses the hope that the Government's Education proposals will be such a curse as they can, perhaps, reluctantly accept. Under no circumstances, within the range of prao tioal possibilities, would passive re aistanoo be justifiable, if they had a conscientious conviction that Churchmen were being violated. They must strenuously try to amend the law* ■ MESSRS BALFOUR AND CHAMBERLAIN. 8 A QUESTION FOR THE UNIONISTS. MR CHAMBERLAIN'S VIEWS. Received February 6, 12.51 a.m. LONDON, February 5. Mr Balfour, in a speech, said he was unwilling to advance any farther the fiscal question. He did not wish the party to commit itself to details. If the party desired he would cheerfully surrender the leadership to Mr Chamberlain, though not to some third person, since tariff reform for some time woulcJ ooqupy but a small space in politics. He considered it unreasonable to ask him to go further and unwise to rule out all who are unable to go as far as Mr Chamberlain. A meeting of the party will probably be held after the speaker's election. The Times says, that "if the party then strongly favours Mr Chamberlain's policy, we cannot see how he (Mr Balfour) can honourably de cline the leadership. Mr Balfour's position, though weak from a popular standpoint, is strong in view of the task immediately before the party. Though Mr Balfour and Mr Chamberlain are unable to arrive at a full political agreement they remain friends, and there is not the slightest idea of personal competition. Mr Chamberlain wishes his scheme of tariff reform to be made the main plank in the Unionist platform and those not accepting it to be no longer regarded as members of the party. If Mr Balfour will accept the tariff reform scheme Mr Ohamberalin will prove a loyal lieutenant; if Mr Balfour is unable to modify his attitude then Mr Chamberlain will form a wholly separate party of tariff reformers, under his own leadership, who will act entirely independently, and will not accept opposition whips, bat will base the whole of their Parliamentary action on tariff reform. Mr Ghainnerlain is willing to serve under Mr W. H. Long, who fully argees with him in his fiscal polioy." THE UNEMPLOYED. Received February 5, 8,42 a.m. LONDON, February' 4. Lady Strathoona has given ten thousand guineas to the unemployed fund, with a stipulation that nine thousand shall be devoted to the emigration of deserving workers to Canada.