BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9690, 14 January 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE ELECTION FIGHT. ADDRESS BY MR BALFOUR. UniteS Press Association —By Eleotrio Telegraph Copyright. Received January 13, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, January 12. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, Opposition Leader, in an election address at Glasgow, said the svstem of treaties under the present fiscal regulations always tells against Britain. "Though every treaty nominally gives equal rights," said the speaker, "things were so managed that the goods we were specially qualified to produce were subjected to heavier duties. Unless the British Foreign Minister has the same weapons in negotiation which others possess, it is folly to expect to receive justice from the European Chancelleries." "The country is beginning to realise," added Mr Balfour, "how much we are gaining by the Imperial preference extended by sister States more far sighted than ourselves." Mr A. Bonar Law, in a speech at Dulwich, declared that no one proposes protective taxation on foods. Mr Chamberlain mentioned two shillings a quarter on wheat. "Our critics rejoin that Germany started with small duties," said Mr Law, "but they forget that in Germany, France and America, the agricultural' population controls politics, while political power in England is in the hands of the towns."

THE CRYING POLITICAL NEED. Received January 13, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, January 12. The Earl of Rosebery, in a letter wishing success to Mr Harold Cox, Independent candidate for Preston, declared that there was no place where independence was more needed or more rare than the House of Commons. "Independence seems to me," said Lord Rosebery, "the most crying political need of the hour". NATIONAL FINANCE. Received January IS, 8.5 a.m.. LONDON, January 12. Lord George Hamilton, formerly Secretary of State for India, in a speech at Ealing, said the present Government had destroyed the Free Trade system, and had so mismanaged national finance by remitting taxation and piling up expenditure without the means of meeting it that the old Free Trade system was impossible.

STATE OF THE NaVY.

AN ADMIRAL'S PROTEST

Received January 13, 8.58 a.m.

LONDON, January 12.

Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, formerly Commander in-Chief on the Australian Station, protests against the Unionists representing the Navy a3 weak. He adds that the Navy is quite equal to the two-Power standard.