UNIONIST SPEECHES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 15 November 1913, Page 5

UNIONIST SPEECHES.

MB LLOYD GEORGE AND "EGGS iiS the Band."

BY CABLE—PKESS ASSOCIATION—COBYBIGHT. LONDON, Nov. 14. ' Mr Bonar Law, at the National Unionist Conference at Norwich, declared that when tne Unionists were in power they would impose a 10 per cent, tariff on foreign manufactur«i goods and would give overseas dominions prer 4 terence, and devote a portion of the revenue thus obtained to lighten the burdens or agriculturalists. If lifter were coerced Unionists would use evevy means to prevent British troops f«x>m shooting loyal Irishmen. While reeoemsmg the importance of, tariff reform he said it sank into insignificance in ;he presence of the dangers threatening the country Referring to the land campaign, he said that,! ■■: apparently, Mr Lloyd George had sent his Bill out into the cold world alone to sink or swim, lhe Chancellor had likened himself to a stormy petrel, but he resembled an ostrich dropping its eggs in the sai d and leaving ■ tneir subsequent fate to1 the wmd or sun. The land tax was an 6^ £22-VX)O at a cost ot £1,390,000 in valuations; and collections. The Insurance Bill was another egg which was causing many great friendly societies to drift rapidly into insolvency. The, greatest egg was the campaign against landowners. The Government should endeavor to secure the co-operation of all classes interested m land, instead of indulging in a campaign against one class. If the Government coerced Ulster without the-sanc-tion of a general election, the Unionises would support the Ulstermen and Use every means to prevent British troops shooting down loyal Irishmen. It was the Government's plain duty to submit the question to an election or referendum.

Lord Selborne, speaking at Bristolj declared that the Unionists' sole proposal, if approached with a view to settling Home Rule, would be a general election.