THE IMPERIAL ELECTIONS

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4302, 18 January 1910, Page 2

THE IMPERIAL ELECTIONS

London, January 17. Cablegrams show that intense interest is being shown throughout South Africa and Canada but more especially in Germany, in the result of the British elections, which commence with G7 borough contests. There is more concern outside England respecting such questions as the strength of the navy, tariff reform, and Socialistic Liberalism than in the battle raging on the House of Lords’ veto.

Herr Harden, the well known writer and editor of the Zukunft, tells the Germans that Mr Balfour is no agitator, and that he simply warns his countrymen not to depend on the goodwill or bad temper of any other Power, and tells them that they must pay higher rates of insurance for their safety. Herr Harden adds: “Every Chancellery holds that an Anglo-Gernian war is probable. There are people in Germany who declare that a Customs tariff closing the British Empire to German goods will have to be pierced by the German sword.” 1 The Berliner Tageblatt, Berlin, strongly appeals for fiscal peace between Canada and Germany, and urges the abandonment of useless insistence respecting Britain’s preference.

Germany, it says, should offer Canada a commercial treaty in exchange for the extension of the tariff on French goods to Germany. German capital would thus be enabled to find a sphere of operations in Canada similar to that in South America. Mr Josenh Chamberlain and Mr A. J. Balfour, in a joint manifesto, state that tariff reform will not increase the cost of living to the work- m ing classes nor the proportion of taxes paid by them, bat will enable a reduction to be made in the present taxes on articles consumed by the working class, and will mean less unemployment and the development of trade with British dominions bevond the seas.

Mr A. Lyttelton, ex-Colonial Secretary, in a speech at Cambridge, stated that in 1906 there were 208 private Bills, authorising the construction of works, valued at between £60,000,000 and £70,000.000. Last year there were only 112 Bills, and the value of the amount authorised showed a decrease of £12,000,000. The decrease he attributed to confidence in Britain being shaken in consequence of the Liberal policy. There was no more striking evidence of the loss the working classes had sustained. Lord Lansdowne, the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords, states with emphasis in reply to a correspondent, that old age pensions are safe. He adds; ‘‘Even the Liberal Government never contended that it should be beyond the power of any , future Government to modify the I conditions of the pensions. Lundon, January 17. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at I Louth, declared that the first results were no indication of the form the Parliament would ultimately take, i Winning an election did not mean 1 holding every seat. Mr Balfour, at Bradford, said it | was perfectly plain that there were | two schools of thought in the Cabi--1 net. One looked forward with deep i alarm to the growth of a rival naval j Power, the other school talked of i frittering away public money on the j navy. "1 don’t know which school would 1 win if the Budget provided ample funds,” he continued, “but when we are faced with a deficit, as I believe certain, the school which regards naval expenditure as frittering will finally dominate the policy of the Cabinet.” Crowds numbering between twenty and thirty thousand gathered outside the Fleet street newspaper offices, in Trafalgar Square, and at Aldwicb, the Fleet street end of the Strand, to watch the election results shown by , lanterns on screens. The periods of i waiting were enlivened by political 1 songs upon gratnaphones. Local Unionists strongly resented ( j Mr Lloyd George speaking at Grims- | by during polling, and a hostile crowd/ j surrounded the hall, booed and cried i "Traitor” and "Pro-Boer.” The | police assisted Mr Lloyd George to escape along the railway line to the | first station, whence he motored to Louth. During the meeting at Louth in the evening the suffragetts, secreted between the ceiling and the roof, compelled the Chancellor to cease speaking while they were ejected. South African newspapers pubiish- | ed on Sunday owing to the intense i interest in the election.

London, January 17. The following completes the list of the borough returns and gives the | position of parties as:— UNIONISTS 41 LIBERALS 35 NATIONALISTS ... 5 LABOUR 4 Birmingham, Bordersley: Rt. Hon. 1 Jesse Collins, Unionist 9021; Hugiis, Labour, 3453. Birmingham North: J. T. Middlc- | more. Unionist, 5189; Dawson, Liberal, 9SS. Birmingham Central: E. Parkes, Unionist, 6015; Brampton, Liberal, 1711. Birniinham, Edgbaston: Sir F, W. Lowe, Unionist, 7951; Morgan, Liberal, 2350. Birmingham South: Viscount Morpeth, Llnionist, 6207; Butler, 2476. Derby (two members): Sir T. Roe, I Liberal, 10,343; Thomas. Labour, I 10,189; Bell, 8038; Page, 7953. i Birmingham East: Maitland, Unionist, 7460; Stephenson, Labour, I 3958. Lincoln: C. H. Roberts, Liberal, I 5402; Filmer, Unionist, 3236; C. H. Seeley, Unionist Freetrader, 2120. Manchester East: Sattcn, Labour 6110; Robb, 5091. Scarborough; W. R- Rea, Liberal, 3011; Arundel, Unionist, 2719. j Manchester, North East: J. R. ( Clyr.es, Labour, 5157; Vaudrey, I 3679. Manchester South; A. A. Hawrth, Liberal, 8121; Jackson, Unionist, j 5699. Salford North: W. P. Byies, Liberal, 4980; lan Malcolm, Unionist, 4123. I Manchester Nortlig Sir C. E. Schwann, Liberal, 5216; Howell, Unionist, 3951. Dcvonport (two members): Sir John Jackson, Unionist, 5658; C. Kinlock Cook. Unionist. 5286; Sir J. I VV. Benn. Liberal, 5146; Lithgow. Labour, 5110. Bath (two members) ; Lord Thynne, Unionist, 3961; Sir C. Hunter, Unionist, 3889; D. McLean, Liberal, 3771; G. B. Gooch, Liberal, 3757. Rochester; Ridley, Unionist, 2675; E. H. Lamb, Liberal. 2543. Salisbury; Locker Sampson, Unionist, 1303; SirE. P. Tennant, Liberal, 1485. Burnley ; G. Arbothnot, Unionist, 5776; F. Maddison, Labour, 5681; H. H. Hyndmnan, Socialist, 4948. Manchester, South West: Colifax, Unionist, 3111; Needham, Liberal, 3001; McLachlan, Labour, 1218. y Scalybtidge: Wood, Unionist, 5736; Bright, Liberal, 3679. Received 9.3u p.m., 17th. London, January 17. Mr Winston Churchill, speaking at Dundee, said the whole tariff reform movement was promoted by the privileged classes to secure what they now possessed, and carry warfare against the rights and interests of the common people. Mr Lloyd George at Louth, greeted the suffragettes with; ‘‘l see rats on the roof, let them squeal.” Mr Asquith at Crieff, declared that the outcry about the navy had com • plotely failed. The reason for a portion of the new taxes was that the Government, recognising the new conditions whereunder th : naval administration had now to be carried on, took prompt and effective measures to make the naval power complete

CABLEGRAMS

United Press Association. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright,

and unassailable. After dwelling upon the issues of the election he concluded by urging the electorate to assert for their representatives the sole right to determine taxation and direct the policy to mould the laws of the Kingdom. Received 8.45 a.m., 18th. London, January 17. Mr Crooks at Woolwich, declared that the people of New South Wales complained bitterly of the five per cent tariff under which the price of commodities had been raised 15 per cent, and added that all colonials repudiate with scorn and derision any suggestion to give them preference. THE UNIONIST GAINS. The following shows the seats captured by the Unionists and Liberals respectively:—Unionist gains, 19; Camfcjridge, Penryn and Falmouth, Lambeth (Brixton), Gloucester. Wolverhampton West, Wolverhampton South, Wednesbury, Fulham, Islington East, King’s Lynn, Devonport (two seats), Bath (two seats), Rochester, Salisbury, Burnley, Manchester (South-west), Stalybridge; Liberal gains, 3; Grimbsy, Darlington, Manchester (North-west).