IMPERIAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12869, 3 January 1906, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

' , THE COAL TAX. SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON,.'January 1. * Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman said that if ' the finances permit, he hoped for an early , repeal of the coal tax. < The Social Democratic Federation of Britain advocates the maintenance of children out Of national '-funds' during the whole ( of.;their-school life, the co-operative organi- ", satiori of the unemployed on the* land, and - in. factories, building and afforestation, ; with pensions for the aged, and those in-' ' capacitated for work, instead of thej work- ] house. The Federation supports Home ' Rule for Ireland. THE HOME RULE DIFFICULTY. LONDON, January 1. Mr Wyndham, speaking at Doverj claimed that he had always denounced more violently " halfway houses" than a full. measure of Home Rule. It were better that- the Union should go down immediately than suffer a lingering death. He would fight as heretofore against any tampering with the Union. Sir Edward Grey, Minister of ' Foreign Affairs, speaking at Emble- - ton, said that the Liberals' [ course was to take up, with Sir Anthony MaeDonell-s help, the sympathetic policy of the administration of Irish affairs where the Conservatives left- off for. want of courage when Mr 'Wyndham was ousted | from the .position of Chief Secretary for- ; Ireland. I m \' LABOUR PROBLEMS. [-- '. / LONDON, January 1. ' Mr Lloyd George, President of the Board J of Trade, speaking at Pwllheli, Carnarvon--5 shire, stated that considerable success was 5 attending compulsory arbitration in New J Zealand . and Australia, but Conciliation • Boaids were the only present solution of 1 English labour troubles. Personally, he " would like to see experiments tried in all " industries. •'.'■. THE GENERAL ELECTION. 3- " ■'■- '-■ • ADDRESS BY HON. A. LYTTELTON:' 3 . __ 3 Received 9.10 p.m., January .2nd. I ' LONDON, January 2. • The Hon. Alfred Lytte!ton, in his ejection 1 address, says that the need of fiscal, reform tt : is gi-owing because it is more and- more • plain that the great self-governing colonies ? strongly favour preference to and from the e Motherland. Prudence, and business fore--8 sight, enually with .patriotism, demand that e every effort- should be made to meet this e desire. ls He adds: "I strongly advocate investi--7 gation on the subject in conference with n the colonies and that the investigators np- ** proach' their task with a sincere resolve ie to advance freetrade within the Empire. I ! h am entirely in agreement with Mr Balfour's [n wisdom of taking power to impose relg taliatory duties. lam inclined to believe -n that a good starting point wiK be a, low e - and uniform duty for revenue purposes on f ? imported manufactures." ]"" Afte* - condemninp- Fmtie T?" 1 " as h. side '.~i:;d, he declared that as the late Govern

tueut were pledged to abide by the decision of an elected and really representative legislature in the Transvaal, snch as "was now being formed, there should be a temporary halt in the recruitment of Chinese. The question seemed unimportant; with this exception Lord Elgin's decision was- in general harmony with, the late Government's policy in South Africa. . POLITICAL ADDRESSES BY LEADERS. Received'lo.47 p.m., January 2nd. LONDON, January 2. Mr Chamberlain, in his election address, charged :he Government with seeking to tortuously compass the disruption of the kingdom by dangerous parsimony on. national defence. He added that a commercial arrangement with the colonies would be the first item on the Unionists' future constructive programme and retaliation the second. The first -would increase the price of bread the slightest, but would open an immense new market and cement Imperial relations. The aim of the second would be to secure employment at fair wages in defence of trade against unfair competition. It would not raise prices, being defensive, not protective, nor would it be inconsistent "with the true spirit of freetrade. Mr Buxton, in his election address, says that the Irish question still demands attention, and solution, and that the War Office must be reformed. He mentions other points. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, in a.speech at Albert Hall, said these were some of the questions wherewith he feels sure the Government will deal if given an opportunity. Their order and method of handling must depend on the result of the election, and the matured consideration of the Liberal progressive party as a whole. IRISH-LABOUR COALITION. Received 11.6 p.m., January 2nd. • LONDON, January 2. Mr Davitt stumps England in support of the Independent Labour candidates. Of fifty of these it is understood that Mr Keir-Hardie hopes to return one-half in which case unless they axe given a commanding majority the Liberals must reckon with an Irish-Labour Coalition. MR BALFOUR ON COLONIAL QUESTION'S. Received 11.10 p.m., January 2nd. 'LONDON, January .2. Mr Balfour, in addressing 2000 electors at Leamington in the. Hon. A. Lyttelton, was frequently" interrupted, by a number of. electors who were, sensitive , in. regard to Chinese labour. Mr Balfour dealt chiefly with" this, question. .He * described as foolish and atrocious falsehoods the statements that the labour ofdin- ! ances excluded the British worker from a ' profitable field of employment, and that Chi- * nese labour in the Transvaal was equivalent to slavery. He characterised the propaganda on this subject as political hyproi crisy. No bye-elections were won on the cry of slavery. The Government in ofL fice had no intention of preventing the colonies carrying on what was called slavery. Incidental mention was made of Mr Chamberlain's admirable speech on Saturday, specially with reference to the impprti ance of colonial markets, and this was > warmly cheered. Mr' Balfour added—"l - do not belong to the party hearing the - colonies' express a desire for closer union • with the Motherland, yet closing its ears ■ and muttering shibboleths about what is erroneously described as freetrade. As re- ✓ 'gards British industries I am in favour of anything which will secure us greater freedom of trade with the colonies, and every- - thing- giving us the greatest power to di- . mmish the maleficent influence of those 5 growing tariffs which are threatening to • throttle British trade in large tract's of the