BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 14 May 1913, Page 4

BRITISH POLITICS.

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald of British politics, Sir Henry Lucy says: ' 'Hie hapless leaders of the Opposition, staggering under the burden of that Old Man of the Sea, tariff reform, hoisted on their shoulders "by Mr Chamberlain, find themselves faced by. a difficulty equally threatening io their fortunes a,t. the iiiext general election.' Neither Lord Lansdowne nor Mr Bonar .Law is in favour of the plan of forced military service advocated by Lord R.oberts. : But it attracts the, sympathy of -their more blatant follower, especially those who have passed the age limit that precludes personal .service. If they dared they j would* promptly put tlieir foot down | and squelch the movement whilst still in its infancy. -Heedless of Mr Balfour's experience—he might, 1-5 years ago. in analogous circumstances, have scotched the (protectionist propaganda—they are dallying with tho new movement, and will in all probability enmesh their party in a fresh entanglement scarcely less disastrous in its consequences than that for which -Mr ißalfour is responsible. A party going to the poll under the banner of protection has little chano? of winning the day. It has none whatever when .to this watchword is added a cry for conscription."