BRITISH POLITICS.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 816, 1 March 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

1 PROPOSED NAVAL INCREASE. LIBERAL FEDERATION'S ATTK TUDE. [b? eleoteio telkgbaph— copyright.) lpee phesß aßßooiation.j London, February 27. Sir Edward Evans, presiding over , the General Committee, said they had heard much about increases of armaments, but the Government would have to show good cause before the Liberals assented to the increase,. The Government's policy of peace . throughout the world was the strong-; est possible, and, added Sir Edward, if the Conservatives came into power now, there would be a frightful catastrophe, hardly exceeded by the Messina earthquake. After the rejection of an amendment from Scarborough, against a policy of unnecessary shipbuilding, a resolution by the executive committees was unanimously adopted, re-af- • firming the principles of economy in naval and military expenditure. To this was added the following: "The-. Committee cannot recognise on the evidence at present before the coontry, that a case has been established for the suggested increase of naval', expenditure." Commenting upon the addition to the resolution,' the Daily News writes: "This refers to the demand for the x six Dreadnoughts in 1909 and probably six more in 1910. The federation's resolution, as we have reason to believe, has not only saved the.Government from a speedy disruption, but maintained the great ideal of Liberalism." The Times, referring to the firm- " ness shown by Mr Asquith in dealing. . with a deputation from the Trades Union Congress, expresses the hope that the, same attitude would unflinchingly be maintained in the probable event of an open struggle in the ; party over naval estimates. ; In the House of Commons, Mr D. J Pirie's Temperance in Scotland Bill 1 embodying the principle of local op- S tion, was read a second time by 174 -■'' to 64. The Hon. Mr Baldane, Minister of » r War, replying to Mr W. Redmond re- i garding the military proposals to the v Colonies, stated that Major-General Hoad (the Australian Commandant), expressed his full concurrence, and he hoped therefore that the proposals would commend themselves to the Commonwealth Goevrnment. Earl Carrington stated that the Government, while recognising that 'the hop industry was in a critical condition, was prepared to re-introduce the Hop Bill, but this in nowise touched the question of Drotection. Among the tariff details in the dispute proceeding between the French Government and the Parliamentary '"*" Committee is that respecting frozen meat rates. The Committee urge a 50 francs general tariff, and the Government urge 35 francs out of consideration to the Canadian Convention. * (Received Maxell: I, &10 a.m.) London, February 28. The Hon. Joseph Pease, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, speaking at Birmingham, said that the Ministers were in perfect Agreement on the naval policy and expenditure for the coming year. They in three years would have saved nearly £2 - 000,000 in armaments. Surely a Go- * vernment showing such disposition to economise could be trusted, while caring for national interests, to safeguard the country and adhere to the traditional policy. Members of the Liberal Party are perturbed over Thomas Gibson Bowles,, their candidate for Central Glasgow, putting Home Rule before the fiscal question, which has secured an officially heavy Irish vote.