THE HOME MINISTRY,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13723, 13 April 1908, Page 5

THE HOME MINISTRY,

COMING CHANGES. MR. ASQUITH RETURNS TO LONDON. A GREAT RECEPTION. By Telegraph Pre?? Association.— Copyright, London, April 10. Me. Asquith has submitted to the King the' proposed Ministerial changes, but nothing will be announced till after his return to London. It is considered more probable that Mr. Winston Churchill will be given the Presidency of the Board of Trade rather than the position of Secretary for the Colonies. In the event of Mr. Churchill's defeat at Manchester, a Welsh member has offered to retire in his favour. The Daily News claims that it has authority to announce that Mr. John Motley (Secretary of State for India) will go to the House of Lords, while retaining his present office. (Received April 12, 4.20 p.m.) London, April 11. Large crowds accorded a great ovation to Mr. Asquith on his arrival at Dover, and also in London. The new Prime Minister immediately visited Sir Henry Campbell-'-Bannerman. The latest bulletin states that Sir Henry passed a quiet day, but his condition has not improved. There is comparatively little suffering, but he is very weak. The Spectator vigorously warns Mr. Asquith against pursuing an old age pension scheme, lest the Government destroy free trade to discharge its financial obligations. THE TARIFF STRUGGLE. LORD CURZON'S SPEECH. LESSONS FROM INDIA. London, April 10. Lord Curzon, in the course of his speech at the Basingstoke meeting of Unionists, said that regarding India, which might conceivably suffer more from retaliation than it could gain from preference, it would be to our interest that her interests should not be sacrificed in any coming change.

India's revenue tariff, added the former Viceroy, was so useful and lucrative that no party in India would consent to part with so, useful a means of negotiation. It had been used more than once to threaten • reprisals on foreign nations.

The Liberal Government, he went on to say, had events in train to disturb many things, but had not shown any tendency to upset the tariff in India. Such a tariff must and ought to come in England.. The Liberal party were acting. as wet-nurses to offspring whom they affected to repudiate and disown.

"If we got such a tariff for revenue purposes, I cannot for the life of me," added Lord Curzon, see why not a tariff, after consultation with the colonial Governments, for strengthening the ties of the Imperial connection. We could also utilise it to improve trade and secure better employment for the workers. The more the question is probed the more those sections of the party which at present support tariff reform, but are mutually separate, will be drawn together.

" Whatever we do, let us not adopt proscription. We are unable to afford to estrange, such men as Lord Salisbury's two sons. That would be unthinkable. Our policy should be one of conciliation, not of reprisals." A PRESS CRITICISM. WHAT " CURZONISM " MEANS. (Received April 12. 4.20 p.m.) London, April 11.. The Daily News says that Lord Curzon stands for a large modification of the fiscal system. "If Curzonism is not exactly Balfourism to-day," it adds, "the chances are that Balfourism will be Curzonism to-morrow. Curzonism is not protection or retaliation ; it is a specious proposal to broaden the basis of taxation for revenue purposes only, to keep free-traders within the fold, partly relieve the wealthy from direct taxation, and provide funds for social reform." The Daily News protests against a broadening of the basis of taxation, which would raise the cost of living to the poor.