FREE-TRADE AND BAD TIMES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 103, 2 May 1908, Page 4

FREE-TRADE AND BAD TIMES.

MR ASQUITH ON THE SITUATION.

THE LICENSING BILL

[press, association.] (Received May 1, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. Sir John Brunner, Liberal Member; for Northwick, presiding over an enthusiastic meeting of the Liberal party, advised the Government to abandon its' Manchester policy of! laissez faire, since the Tory party] had absolutely convinced the mercantile community that they meanti to make a big effort for the benefit ofj trade when they regained power. Sir, John Brunner advised the Govern.-* ment to adopt a liberal, sane, wholesome and sound trade policy, because when bad times came the mercantile community would accept an offer, from the other side if the Liberals ijoade none.

Resolutions were passed deploring Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's loss,, and warmly welcoming Mr Aaquith. Mr Asquith expressed warm gratitude for tlie confidence reposed iir' him. He attached little importance to the recent Liberal reverses at byelections. Though he admitted thati a critical time was at hand in Par-* Jiamentary affairs, still, it was necessary to defend free-trade. Hej hoped* that an education concordatl was possible, - but the Liberals, he taid, were unable, to abandon eithec their principles/ or their friends* Though v the, Licensing BjlV had met' with ari unprecedented storm of misrepresentation and vituperation, nothing that the Liberals had done years had given them more real foothold among intelligent people. The* Government was determined rather to sink ia attempting to solve the probi lem than riot attempt to solve it.