BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9628, 21 October 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

SMALLHOLDINGS. ADVOCATED BY UNIONISTS. uited Press'Associatiqn—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received October 20, 8.5 a.m. LONDON. October 19. In connection with. a presentation from the Rural Labourers' League to the Right Hon. Jesse Collings, Unionist member for the Bordesley division of Birmingham, for his services to the cause of a peasant proprietory, Mr Joseph Chambenain has written a letter declaring that while tariff reform will prove the salvation of the inhabitants of the towns, the reaction of a peasant proprietorship is necessary for agricultural labourers —indeed, is the only plan whereby those problem* which affect him chiefly can properly be dealt with. Mr Collings writes stating that instead of shipping overseas cargoes of men and women who form the pith and lustihood ol the country, steps should be taken to colonise rural England. This policy is the natural barrier against Socialism; hence Socialists are in determined oppositoin to land ownership. Since Mr Balfour's Birmingham speech the Opposition speakers [and newspapers have been continually advocating the creation of a large class of proprietors of small holdings by means of Land Banks, or by methods similar to those adopted in regard to Ireland.

LIBERAL DEFECTIONS. Received October 20, 8.25 a.m. LONDON, October 19. Lieutenant Carlyon Bellairs, member for King's Lynn, has joined the Unionist Party. Lord Portman, who in politics in a Liberal Freetrader, will support the Opposition at the General Election owing to the Government's Budget proposals.

Received October 20, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, October 20. Mr A. Ure, Solicitor-General for Scotland, addressing a Budget League meeting at Tring. declared that no tariff reformer had shown how revenue was to be raised for old age pensions. The poor folks' a!arm lest a change of Government might cause the loss of their pensions was well founded.

"SHAME, YOU COWARDS"

Received October 20, 8.25 p.m. LONDON, October 20. In the House of Commons, in reply to a question whether the Government appealed'to Spain for clemency towards Ferrar, Sir E. Grey declared that he would not depart from the rule of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. When the House refused his motion for an adjournment of the House, Mr Victor Grayson, the Socialist member, shouted, "Shame, you cowards!"