THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10574, 27 January 1906, Page 4

THE LIBERAL PROGRAMME.

GREAT MEETING AT ALBERT

HALL.

SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM,

SPLENDID RECEPTION OF

PREMIER AND MINISTERS. LU_.VUUx\, December &_. The meeting ni me Albert Mall last liigut signalised tuc opening of the Liberal c.iinjHi-^ii. importance anu Jiileimt were added to the occasion uy tne laut that Sir Jtienry Oumpbell-Buuuermaii delivered Uite nist public speech since lus accession to the x'rcmiersinp, and that m it he outlined the progruuime ot the new Administration.

The demonstration was marked with great enthusiasm, livery seat m tue vast nail was occupied. Indeed, close upon 100,000 applications tor ticKets were received. On the platform, under tho great organ, practically aU the members of the jMinifitry surrounded liie Premier.

Impressive m the extreme was the spectacle presented by the vast circular hall. Tier upon tier, from floor to ceiling, stretched an unbroken sea of faces. For au hour 9000 voices, led by the Strand Liberal Choir, Bang toxical songs, while the organ pealed an accompaniment.

The platform was fringed with flowers, studded here and there with bunches of heather — the latter m compliment to the Scottish Premier. As each Cabinet Minister entered he received a thunderous welcome. Perhaps tlie most markedly enthusiastic greetings were those accorded to Mr Asquith, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was accompanied by Mrs Asquith; to Mr Jolrn Burns, President of the Local Government Board ; aud to Mr Winston Churchill, Under-Secretary for the Colonies. It was observed that Mr Burns, while smilingly acknowledging his welcome, carried the bowler hat .wliich is a characteristic detail of his attire. But enthusiastic as all tliis was, it paled before the tremendous ovation which broke v out immediately the wellknown, features of Sir Henry Guuipbi.llBannermau were detected. Cheer rolled on cheer, and finally the upstanding audience sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Sir Heury wag clearly overcome by this remarkable tribute to his popularity among the party. His mouth twitch, ed and the unbidden tear, wliich he could not withhold, rolled down his homely, genial face. The new Prime Minister spoke well, employing many ' happy pnrases, and was never hesitant m delivery.

fcjir Henry Campbcll-Bannerman said | the Unionist Government is gone. (Cheers.) It has executed what wo may call a moonlight flitting. (Laughter.) It has run away, not m the broad day of the session, not even m the twilight of October, but m the murky midnight of December. (Renewed laughter.) There has been no shudder through the Chancelleries of Europe (a laugh)— as Mr Balfour kindly anticipated. Sir Edward Grey tells me — (cheers) — that foreign ambassadors come to see him just as if nothing had happened. (Laughter.) Again. Consols instead of tumbling down, as they ought to have done, have actually risen. (Laughter and cheers.) After the greater part of 20 years of Tory rule great allowance must be made for a Liberal Government coming into power. ("Hear, hear.") We have the house to set m order. (Cheers.) We have dilapidations to repair, and that will take time. LORD KITCHENER. So far as Indian questions are concerned, I expect that it will not be your friend and mine, Mr John Morley — (cheers) — m whom the doings of the late Government will find their most eloquent and energetic and unsparing critic. No. it will be one of the most distinguished and powerful members of their own party — I mean Lord Curzon. One of the problems arising from the system of military administration m India has raised an angry controversy. You may bo sure that it will bo our aim to restore that spirit of caution and vigorous common sen««e which litis been the boast of British rule m India, and you may also be ,sure that we shall make ourselves party to no steps that involve any invasion nf the sacred principle of the subordination of the military to the civil authority. (Loud cheers.) CHINESE LABOR. It is surely unnecessary for us to make public protestation of our affection for the colonies — ("Hear, hear") — our desire to bring them closer aud closer to ourselves. I have heard with relief and pleasure from Lord Elgin (the Colonial Secretary) that he finds no trace of that tendency to disruption of wliich we were told but a few months ago — no sign of tension or friction. Everytliing is smooth, save one ruffled spot — South Africa. One conclusion the Government has arrived at is this : to stop forthwith, so far as it is practicable to do it forthwith, the recruitment and embarkation of coolies m China— (loucT and enthusiastic cheering, the audience rising and way. ing handkerchiefs) — and their importation into South Africa, and instructions have been given to that effect. (Great cheering.) x<uiti_,lGN KELATIUx\b. In lhe course oi his remain..* uij foreign relations, vie new Jfroiuior saiu : uur yunerai loreigu poncy wui remain' tne s-iiii_ m Uoveriiuieiic as it wa» m opposition. ("Ueav, near. ) it win. oe uppuseu tv uggiespiuli — luiieersj— una' it wnl ue amniateu by a desire to oe on the best ibi'iiiii witii all nationalities — (ciiieifl'6) — „ anu io co-opeiace witn, tneni m tuc common wui'K. vi civilisation. ■ AiOJLl' AiNU JNAVT. It is vain tv seels, peace il \ou do not also ensue it. 1 huiu tnat me gr.uwtn uj. umiuiuenii. is a gieat< uanger . to , the pence vi the world. ("Hear, near.") ■& puticy uf nuge armaments keeps alivo .uui stimulates and feeds tuo btaui thatlorce is tne bes-t, ii not the ouiy, sulutiun oi international U-Jteremstts. rt J» a 'policy tnat tenus to iiinaiue old sores anu to citato new sores; aud l tfuoiuit. to you tnat as the piuicipie ot peaeeiui arbitration gains ground it becomes one, ot tne highest tubjj_» vi statesmen tv adjust these armaments io tne new and' happier era. (Cneeis.) n'liut nobler roie cuuid this great country have than at a tit moment to place itself at the nuad ol a League ol x'eace througu whose instrumentality this great work could bii effected.

We want relief irom the pressure ot excc«iive luxation, unci at tlie same tune wo warn, uioiioy to meet onr own uoiuestic nccUa at liouie. How arc these desirable thinga to be secured u'ui.ume of peace oui itniuuueiity are niai-iitaiiicu on a war tootmgl Vvo may ueiive tioiiietmng from the hind — (loud cueciß)— suinetniug from iioensing — (niaie cheers) ■ — and the more irksome i_iet|ualities oi luxation may be relieved, iiut* even eu with the increasing military expenditure, iiusv can we uo tbe work of moral tuat reniaiiit. tu be done ut home and at the .same time bring relief to the taxpayer? Dv not let us ihind it m their folly they call us "Little Englandeis." (Loud uud lung-continued cheeiw.) lat least am patriotic enough hot to desire to ace the weakening of my country by euch waste ot money as we have had ior the last ten years. Expenditure calls lor taxes, and tuxes arc tue playthings ol tlio Tariff Reformer. Militarism, extravagance, Protection are weeds which grow m the same held — ichecis) — and if you want to clear tlie iield for uonest cultivation you must root them all out. HOME RULE. We believe m the principle of wellgo veiiiment and local control. This i» tho foundation ot our educational policy —("Hear, hear")— and tho people of tho district b-hould control and manage the ecluiuls. (Loud ' cheers.) It. is Lhe foundation of our licensing -policy— (cheers) — but if i seek for illustrations, why dv 1 not take tlio greatest, tbe uipst conspicuous instance uf ail — tbe crowning instance? — wlmt otUer than this: is the fuuudatuiii of our Irish policy — (eiheei-s) — that those domestic affairs which concern the Irish people only and not ourselves sliould, as and when opportunity oilers, be placed m tlieir hands? (Cheers.) SOCIAL REFORM.

We desire to devolop our ow/n undeveloped estate m this country, to colonise our own country — (cheer*.)— -to give tho fanner greater freedom.' and. greater security m the exercise of his bmsiness; to secure a home and career for tlie laborers who are m too many castas cut off from the soil. We wish to make tho land less of a pleasure ground for tine rich — (cheers)— and more of a treasure house for the nation. (Renewed cheerp.) Now, why cannot, Mr Chamberlain— ((hisses)— drop his project of taxing corn amd cheese aud so forth and come back to- his old love of three acres and a cow? (Laughter and "Hear, hear.") All the health and stamina of the nation are bouiud with tbe maintenance of a large class of workers ou the soil. (Cheers.) A town population redundant, a country population decimated— it is the subversion, of healthy national life. ("Hear, hear.") The Government has resolved on- a development, if that can be given, Ao our -system* of canal communication, and promoting ' the use of waterways. It will facilitate transit ; it will open markets ; it will bring town and country to- i gether. ("Hear, hear.") We^ have, ] therefore, resolved to ask tl«o King to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into tho whole of that question. London presents a group af problems positively terrifying by their dimensions — problems of housing and overcrowding, problems of the unemployed, and of the over-employed, and of tho biudly^cmployed. (Clieers.) We can strcfugthen the hiiuds of the municipalities by reforming the land system and the rating system, m wliich I include the imposition of « rate on ground vainest. (Loud cheers.) We can make il easie r for them, to relieve the congestion of -folic eentae, and to promote orderly and "healthy development of the outskirts. We can do what m ns. lies to prevent the central departments from being m amy sense .a drag on local enterprise, and unakc I hot*' departments rather stimulate -and iuspii'ej.

and I rather think that the new President of the Local Government Board — (prolonged cheering) — will be a good guide m such matters. I want to see the Poor Law framed to meet a different state of things, brought into harmony with new conditions, and I think we are all agreed that experiments, carefully conducted and constantly watched, may be entered upon with advantage with the view of finding how best they may mitigate the evils of non-employment. Ab to the law of combination, which has been gravely affected by a series of judicial decisions, it will be our desire, with the least possible delay, so to amend it as to give freedom and security to the trade unions m the pursuit of their legitimate aims.