MR ASQUITH'S SPEECH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 36

MR ASQUITH'S SPEECH.

(By Cable.) LONDON, April 12. Mr Asquith made his first political appearance since the elections as a guest at a dinner given «by the Independent Liberals. He declared that the manoeuvring at the. December elections had produced a preponderating Tory majority. The people were now realising it was an entirely artificial business cons traction and a top-heavy structure. Reading the results of the recent by-elections, we appear to be witnessing the early stages of disillusionment and relapse. The attempt to apply conscription in Ireland was a disastrous stroke to the power and prestige of the Constitutional Party, and necessitating the retention of 40,000 troops to maintain order. But the first condition of a durable basis of law and order in Ireland is to alter the present system of government. The Peace Conference was engaged in inaugurating new international selfdetermination in various European communities. But some of these cases, from the standpoint of law and order, present difficulties compared with which Ireland's is relatively insignificant. Our war finance abundantly justified the governing principles of the British fiscal system. We contributed, a larger proportion of the annual cost of the war from taxation than any Continental Power. It was nc secret that the next Budget would embody some form of Imperial preference. The Liberal Party is as anxious as any other to draw closer the Imperial ties, and he hoped that effect would be speedily given to the recommendations of the Dominions' Commission. Tariff reformers were at present trying to manipulate preference out of tea, wine, and such things, but they really wish for Protection. The self-governing colonies are rightly, free to choose their own fiscal systems. We claim the same freedom. Mr Asquith added that extravagance had become the order of the day, when, there was the greatest need for economy, thus spelling the doom to social reform. The governing objects of the Liberal policy were as follow: —The maintenanceof an independent party; resistance to legislation favouring classes or interests, and the earliest restoration of political commercial, and personal freedom; Irish self-government; and public economy, combined with the maintenance of Freetrade, pursuant to a national minimum of health, comfort, and culture.