BRITISH POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 178, 23 April 1908, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE MANCHESTER FIGHT. IMPORTANT POLICY STATEMENTS. . FREETRADE AND PROTECTION. MR. LLOYD-GEORGE AND MR. BALFOUR. . < ' BX TELEOIIAPH—PF.ES3 ASSOCIATION— corriuGHT (Rec. April 22j.-d.14 p.m.) , ■ , ' London, April 22. Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor of tho Ex- , : chequer, speaking at Manchester, -predicted that Van Old Age Pensions Bill would ■ be passed ..within; t'wolvo . months. N ~ Ho denied that tho' Liberals were abandoning their programme of advanced social reform, in order to win bapk, .according to a suggestion which had been mado, tho'confidence of tho oountry. If they abandoned .their programme, tlioy would wintho contempt of tho country. Ho did not b&liovo that Manchester,•after, standing on tho great principles of 1900, would sell them in 1908. . The'defeat of Mr. Churchill would bo a blow to Frectrado. Mr. Lloyd-Georgo added 1 that >Freetrado (was the Alpha,' but not tho Omega,', of tho Libei'a.l policy.' In biiilding'thereon.they must bo careful not to remove tho foundation.' Ho. emphasised tho.need'for courago to combat tlio-monopoly' of privilego and tho obstruc'tiveriess of vested intorests, whother in regard to the bducation question or tho liquor 'trade. • OPPOSITION 11 AND TARIFF REFORM. MANCHESTER'S SYMPATHY. (Rec. April-22, 9.51'.p.m.) ' Lciidon, April 22. " Mr 'Balfour;, in a letter to Mr., JoynsonHicks' - (Unionist -candidate -, for the North- . west Manchester . scat), predicts that ho• .will '- •win;;":- ■' ' ■'• Mr. Balfour /goes on,to say:—Tho fact that tho ; President of the Board of Trade should find his own powers insufficient to defend tho: seat, and that the new Chancellor of the Exchequer has been driven to como to his assistance, is an; unwilling tribute to Mr. Joyn-son-Hieks'sVcloquehea and . hisi. party's ..enthusiasm, which any candidate might envy. The moro - the members of tho Government explain their": ii.se .'of- political power, the .less likely-.they: are to retain. it..... ■', Commenting on;the attitude tof the ; Freetraders, Mr.' Balfour adds:—"Such divisions are wasting maladies to great 1 organisations. Tho evil thev are doing; is increased by any attempt'.to .the fact '.that the vast majority,'/of ,the .party is .resolved ,to' deal with tho fiscal question. My hopes for tho complete.' unity ■ : of the . Unionists is •: based upon ,tho growing, conviction that they will all, ultimately see that tlio. fiscal, system; has broken 1 down at every 'standnojntj including '.Sir IRober.t. Peel's, and Mr., Gladstone's., • : "Then . alternative proposals will havo a fair, hoaring-from the small section of the Unionists, who arc still dreading , a change, though these may meanwhile stand aloof. I. ■am confident that .the election of Mr. Joyn-son-Hicks^ will .begiii.;the restoration .to Unionist principles of- tho great, community which .onco was, and, again would bp,,, tlie ■strength, and.glory, of "the, Unionist cause.''. . _ HOME RULE, . . j I THE IRISH VOTE AND MR. ASQUITH'S ! , i PROMISE. ' V; r ;,': | bt rni.EoitArH—rui:3s association—corrniGnt. i London, April 21. . I -Mr. John Redmond, Loader-of the Nationalist party inthaHouso of Commons, is con,'sidoring Mr.'.' Churchill's Homo, : ltule: stateI raent beforo-finally , advising 'tho' Manchester ; electors. • ;: "Tho ••■Times'*'' says! that tho Dublin •Nationalist party arrived at a decision* some days ago. .• Tho majority,- including most of ; tho younger and, abler members, took definite sides .with Mr.,-. Churchill. .. i.- Tho ' Irish. -League's • standing , committees will (adds "The Times ") ■ doubtless contrivo to savo Mr.- Redmond's face. Ho was under a serious misoonception regarding tho party's ' views. when ..ho; spoke against Mr., Churchill's candidature. " ; - . ; . ;/ -• - •' ' ' MR. CHURCHILL GETS: THE VOTE.' (Itec. April 23, 0.47 a.m.) : . . London, April 22. . The Standing Committee ■" of the Irish League of Great Britain has recommended tho Nationalists to vote, for, Mr. Churchill on. tho ground that'the latter has declared, on Mr. Asquith's authority, thkt Homo Rule, in the senso of Mr. Redmond's resolution,.'will be submitted to tho electors by tho Government at: the next general election. •••• ; ■ • - The Standing ■ Committee of the Irish League,' communicated this' instruction to tho ' Standing Committeo of the Irish League of Groat Britain before tho latter issued' the abovo' recommendation, which is signed by Mr. Rc-flmond and' Mr.- T.' P. O'Connor. j ' ; Mr. • Churchill, speaking at 1 .Manchester; said ho was- convincedthat <a national settlement of Irish difficulties was indispensable to any harmonious conception of Liberalism. He had Mr. Asquith's concurrence.in sayinethat Parliament: were'dissolved tho party should' claim full authority and' a free hand. to deal with the problem- of Irish self-government, "withoiK being restricted to mere, measures of devolution like the' abandoned Irish Councils Bill.