LIBERAL POLICY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10682, 31 January 1913, Page 1

LIBERAL POLICY.

LAST NIGHT'S CABLES

THE GOVERNMENT'S ACHIEVEMENTS.

SPEECH BY MR ASQUTTH. United Pros? Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, January 30.

'.Mr Astjuitli, in a speech at Leven, 3aid that the Government had placed on tho Statute Bool: two of thtvgmitost social- reforms, old ago pensions and national;'insurance,- ever enacted. It had provided for the ' maintenance of -unchnilenged command of the sea without. adding ;i penny to tlio debt, and had 'actually diminished the country's capital liabilities to a larger extent than any of its* preclocossova without slogging industrial enterprise. Relations witTi the overseas dominions h'ad been more cordial. The. colonies .were lobly co-operating in common defence. It was .obvious that the Unionists had abandonee! Gbamberlainism. Tho, re--?ont tortuosities and gvrathns of the Unionist Party made it 'difficult to srasp-their preseut policy. No effective colonial preference was possible without' food duties. Britain had nothing to gain and everything to lose, by changing itjs .fiscal policy.- > ■ , - In reply to a question whether hj« desired taxation of land values.• Mr Asqtiith snid that the matter was being considered in the Land Bill. He was unable to disclose its provisions. Suffragettes attempted to enter the hall. One was arrested for throwing pepper into a constable's face.