SIR C. DILKE ON ENGLISH POLITICS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1889, 9 May 1889, Page 1

SIR C. DILKE ON ENGLISH POLITICS.

Lohdon, May 7. Sir Charles Dilke, in the course of a brilliant speech at Dean Forest, said that England had batter follow the example of her colonies in other matters than the ballot or cloture, such as the extension of the franchise based on age instead of property. He thought that as it was they were pretty certain to follow in colonial footsteps in the direction of religious equality, compulsory education, and free schools, which must not be pauperised schools such as Victoria and New Zealand had. He advocated boarding out pauper children and old and helpless people dependent on the State for subsistence. He drew attention to the system of provident insurance under State auspices in New Zealand 5 and advised the following of the example of the colonies with regard to local option. He was not in favor of the principle being pushed to a point which would lead to the restriction of individual liberty, but desired to see the abuse of drinking put a stop to. He was in favor of the adoption of a shorter term for the existence of Parliament, the payment of members, and the freeing of candidates from the burden of election expenses. He commended the dissolution of Upper Houses, in order to carry bills against their vetoes. He approved cumulative taxation, graduated succession duties, and a graduated property tax, but to a less heavy extent. He supported a higher income tax, and the eight hours system. He confessed the present difficulty of his proposal, but an attempt should be made to get the principal manufacturing countries of Western Europe to come to a general agreement in favor of limiting the hours of labour. The Government and municipalities ought to set the example by enforcing the principle in »U renewals or extensions of contracts. The time was not ripe for the compulsory adoption of the system, but it ought to be experimentally tested. He was in favor of checks upon sweating in vogue in Victoria. The colonies were far in advance of the Mother Country in the matter of local government. The concession of responsible government bad converted New South Wales f fom h dangerous condition into a most loyal country, and from the example he argued that it would be impossible to. long withold similar justice from Ireland.