IMPERIAL POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14378, 23 November 1908, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR. GOVERNMENT POLICY fyEVJEWED. A'CHANGE PREDICTED. Pros: Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON,... November 20. Speaking at Cardiff, Mr Balfour sai<l, in regard.i to national defence, that Mr Asquith in his recent statement had sugr gested that the Government .really intended to adhere to the traditional policy of successive Governments respecting the navy. It was, .nevertheless, essential to maintain an adequate .military ■ force as well. He ridiculed the insatiable appetite of the Government for legislation, instancing the dropping or withdrawing of three Education Bills in three years, N ahd Uiey were now about to introduce a fourth. He deprecated attacks on the; Church of Wake, which was showing itself a living and vital force. He was confident .that the temperance reformer 'was Working on wrong lines in the Government''Licensing Bill, and he thought that the Lords,were perfectly safe, despite Mi" Bin-ell's vituperative rhetoric. He declared that fiscal reform was no remote ideal, but a move--meiit of thought, among all political forces. The trend of economic speculation was driving them to. a ( great', change in' their fiscal system. The time was not far distant, indeed, but within the'vision of 'all, when the great policy they advocated would be turned frpm an ardent hope into a practical reality, knitting closer the Imperial bonds, steadying the whole industrial machine, mitigating unemployment, and safeguarding their great interests against a combination of,increasing industrial efficiency, backed by the unscrupulous use of hostile' tariffs by every commercial country in the world. A momentous change was approaching, and when, ere .long, the Unionists were, recalled to power, they would carry out a constructive policy that would give effect to these principles. —(Prolonged cheers,) ELECTRICITY IN LONLON. LONDON, November ,20. The Standing Committee of the 'Houee of Commons unanimously- rejected the London District Electricity Supply Bill, aiid will now consider bills to conned existing supplies. HOP SUBSTITUTES. LONDON, November 20. Mr Asquitb. has announced an early bill to prohibit' ilic uee of hop substitutes in beer.