BRITISH ELECTIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7024, 12 January 1910, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

ISSUE OE WRITS

FIRST RESULTS AVAILABLE NEXT SATURDAY NIGHT. NEW HOUSE MEETS FEBRUARY 15 By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 11, 10.15 p.m.) LONDON, January 11. A Dissolution Council was held at Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon at half-past 3 o'clock. This hour was fixed upon to avoid the possibility of returning officers in metropolitan areas securing writs before 4 o’clock in order to fix pollings to be held on Saturday. Only the borough elections will bo hold on that day, and most of the results will be known tho same night. Tho new Parliament will meet on February 15th. THE PREMIER’S MANIFESTO FREE TRADE AND POPULAR RULE AT STAKE. (Received January 11, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, January 11. In his address to tho electors of East Fife, tho Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, says: “The Lords have violated tho Constitution in order to save Tariff Reform from a mortal blow. The fortunes of both free trade and popular government are now at stake. The possession of an unlimited power of veto by a partisan Second Chamber is an insuperable obstacle to democratic legislation.” Tho address docs not mention Homo Rule, and only makes incidental reference to the Navy in explaining the causes of the heavy increase ip tho Budget requirements. • TRADING WITH EELATIONS CHANCELLOR ON FOLLY OF PREFERENCE. (Received January 11, 11 p.m.) LONDON, January 11. Mr Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in. the course of a speech at Falmouth, where ho addressed a gathering of 4500'persons, remarked: “ The Opposition says, ‘ Lot us treat with our colonies.’ I reply, ‘ Why with the colonies alone?’ Tradesmen do not put a notice outside their shops, ‘ I trade only with relations.’ If the colonics want assistance we are boufld to help them, and they are bound to help us to tho last drop of their blood. “ But business is business. Canadians do not pay more because goods come from Britain, and they would be fools if they did. It would bo folly unworthy of a business nation for Britain to risk £251,000,000 worth of foreign trade on the off-chance of securing £30,000,000 more of colonial trade.” Mr Lloyd Goorgo denied the accuracy of the reports of his hostile reception on Saturday, and declared that the torchlight procession was abandoned owing to risk to his health through driving in the night air. A cable message published yesterday stated that Cornish granite workers compelled tho abandonment of a torchlight procession organised at Fakgouth in connection with Mr Lloyd George's visit. They; were inconeed because orders for granite for tbo Bosyth© naval base bad been given to foreigners, and there was an angry, demonstration at the railway station. Police escorted .Mr Lloyd Georg© to a waiting motor-car. TAEIFF WALLS PAIL TO PREVENT UNEMPLOYMENT AND TRADE CRISES. LONDON, January 10. Writing to Sir Henry Norman, who has just beep, appointed Assistant Postmaster - General, •Mr Winston Churchill, President of the Board of T./.dc, declared that tho German and "American tariffs had conspicuously failed to prevent unemployment. Although the German was. willing to ©at horseflesh 'and black bread, he was, said the Minister, hopelessly inferior to his British comrade as a producer; and although the Americans have a vast virgin continent, there was greater instability of trade there, more unemployment, and more bankruptcy than in Britain. THREE SEATS UNCONTESTED .s u. LIBERAL STANDS FOR CITY „ OF LONDON. LONDON, January 10. There will be no election contests for West Birmingham (represented by the Bight Hon. Joseph Chamberlain), Durham City (Mr J. W. Hills, Conservative), and Cumberland. [There are four Cumberland seats, three of which wore closely fought-out at tho las elections. The fourth. Penrith Division, has been represented by the Bight Ifon. J. W. Lowthor, Conservative and Speaker of tho House,, since 1535. In 1906 ho was unopposed, and presumably it is ho who is to go unchallenged on this, occasion.) Sir Hugh Bell, tho well-knoiVn Yorkshire ironmaster and colliery proprietor, is standing for the City of London on behalf of tho Liberals.

[London City returns two members. At tho last election Sir Edward Clarke and the non. A. O. H. OU>bs (Conservatives) wore returned, polling 16,019 and 15,619 votes respectively against two Liberals, Mr F. O. Schuster (5315) and Sir J. "West Ridgeway (5064). On Air Balfour’s defeat at Manchester, Jfr Gibbs resigned, and the Ox-Premier was returned by 15,474 votes to 4134 polled by Mr Gibson Bowles (Unionist Free Trader). Later, on tho rosigna-

tion of Sir Edward Clarke in June, 1906, Sir Frederick Banbury (Conservative) was returned unopposed.} In fifty-four constituencies ther© will bo three-cornered contests. "k CEUEL AND INDECENT LIE.” STATEMENTS REGARDING ME J. CHAMBERLAIN. LONDON, January 10. Replying at Widloy, Hampshire, to repeated statements that Mr Joseph Chamberlain was incapable of writing a single word, that he was practically imbecile, and that his son Austen wrote the letters appearing in Mr J. Ohanrberlain'e name, Mr Austen Chamberlain stated that he would not comment on tho cruel and indecent lie, but would contradict it publicly. Sir Edward Carson, cx-Solicitor-G-oncral, speaking at Morpeth, Northumberland, denied similar inventions.