PROTECTION AND FREETRADE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1909, Page 7

PROTECTION AND FREETRADE.

SPEECH BY MR. OHUEOHILL. ARISTOCRATIC RULE v. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. LONDON, 14th January. ' The Right Hon. Winston Churchill, President of the Board of Trade, addressed a meeting at Birmingham yesterday. In the course of his speech ho expressed regret that the once great home of militant Radicalism had fallen into the grip of a narrow-minded set of Lib-eral-Unionist politicians, men who were without a single generous idea of the principles of government. He did not deny that recent by-elections had involved a reaction of feeling of an unfavourable character; but the results of such elections were not sufficient to deflect the Government's policy one hair's breadth. The Government would only dissolve Parliament at such a time as would be most advantageous to the general interests of a progressive cause. Continuing, the President of the Board of Trade ridiculed the air of solemn humbug with which the Marquis of Lau&downe (leader ot the Opposition m the House of Lords) habitually invested the proceedings of that Chamber. Effective and far-reaching reform of the House of Lords must be the issue at the general election, and, whatever the result, no Liberal Government at any future time would assume office without securing guarantees that reform would be carried out. After claiming that Lhe Government had done much in the matter of legislation, and was able to do much more, Mr. Churchill challenged the Lords to fqree a dissolution by rejecting the next Budget if they really wanted a speedy appeal to the country. Personally, he would be quite content to see the battle fought out at as early a date as possible, and upon the plain and simple issue — aristocratic rule against representative government ; to which would be added the struggle between the advocates of a reversion to protection and those who favoured the maintenance of free-trade principles — between a tax on bread and a tax on — well, never mind what ! This statement was received with laughter. Apropos Mr. Churchill's reference to the result of by-elections. Prior to the Mid-Essex contest, in December, Mr. J. Chamberlain, in a letter to Mr. Pretyman, the Tariff Reform candidate, remarked : — "Let us meet the foreigner on equal terms, and I have no doubt as to the issue. I believe that we have never had real free trade, and are suffering at this time from one-sided effoits to which we have hitherto fallen the prey. Every fresh experience proves that a, change is necessary, and I do not doubt that the electors of your division will imitate the example of all who have had an opportunity during the last few months of pronouncing an opinion, and will show that they are piepared for the relorm which the times make desirable." Mr Pretyman was elected by a very large majority.