Gladstone at Manchester.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 288, 4 December 1889, Page 3

Gladstone at Manchester.

THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME.

London, December 2,

Mr Gladstone received a great ovation at Manchester this evening, where he delivered a political address. His speech was in the main a criticism of the speech of the Premier at the Guildhall early last month. He took Lord (Salisbury the task for then stating thai the troubles in Crete and Armenia were the only disturbing element in Europe, and disagreed with his expressed view that these difficulties were subsiding. The question of the disestablishment of the Scottish- and Welsh churches, Mr Gladstone said, was ripe for solution. Referring to Irish affairs he declared that the struggle for the autonomy of Ireland was certain to end in victory fer the Home Rule party, and he declared himself in favour of granting autonomy to Scotland and Wales also. The allotments and dwellings occupied by Irish tenants should be freed from leasehold tenure, and every tenaut should be permitted to obtain the freehold of his holding. He declared in favour of shorter Parliaments, but thought the question of the reform of the House of Lords was one for the future. He urged that the taxing powers of County Councils should be more widely extended,