BRITISH POLITICS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12715, 29 January 1906, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE (LIBERAL POLICY.

AS OUTLINED (BY THE PRIME

■MDNISTER.

Subjoined are .tihe main points in. the speech delivered by tihe Prime Minister, Sir Benry Camptoeli-Bannerman, at the Albert Hall last month, (immediately after accepting office and 'before the eilections — The Late 'Government lived on tactics and has died of tactics. We have a new Government, and we shall shortly have a new and strengthened and rejuvenated Parliamentary party . ••-,.■ x We are lnno predicament. It is for us not to allow the late Government "to escape from the responsibility for their past actions. They aTje trying to thide their fiscal policy behind some other issue. But Mr. Balfoua- cannot fix the issue at a general election^. • The issue is fixed; toy-, circumstances largely of (his own creation. : Doubt as to the wisdom tof our taking offica is dispelled toy oartain reassuring circumstances. There has Ibeen shuddering in the Chancelleries of Europe, and Consols have risen. I have no new pronouncement to make; there is no occasion for it. We are not destitute of an active policy of legislation and administra. tion. In India dtb will foe our policy to restore that spirit of caution and vigorous eommonsense which (has been tha boast of OBritush rule in India. We shall be no party to the subordination of tihe military to itihe civil authority. In the {Monies everything is smooth, except in South Africa. The Government have given instructions to eitop the importation of Chinese coolies into South Afirica as far as practicalble. I emphatically reaffirm my adhesion to the policy of the entente cordiale'. We 'have nothing tout good feelings towards Russia . There is no cause of estrangement between England and Germany, and I •welcome the unofficial demonstrations of friendship which have'been passing be--4-.T.-*svr\s*-» *J-iU^v H-nm iSiif\M ■n4-<Y*IfHO

With Japan and America our relations are most friendly. Our general foreign policy towards our ■neighbours 'will remain fclhe same in Government as it was in Opposition. It will be opposed to aggression and adventure.

The growth of armaments is a great danger -to the peace of the world. As regards finance, we want relief from the pressure of severe taxes. Theire are, I believe^ fresh sources to be tapped. We may derive something from land srad licenses, and irksome inequality of taxes (may 'be (relieved. If peace and retrenchment were Ibe order of the day, Othello's occupation -would 'be gome. Taxes are the playthings of tariff reformers.

Militarism, extravagance, and Protec. tion are weeds which grow in the same field.

I do not believe we should have been confronted by the spectre of Protection if it tad not 'been for the South African war.

Self -government and popular control are (Liberal principles. •Our educational policy is that the people should control and manage the schools tin their districts.

This is also the foundation, of our licensing policy. What other than this is the foundation of our Irish policy? ..■■;- 1> Those domestic afEaors which concern the Irish people only|-:and not ourselves, should foe placed in itJheir own hands. We desire to colonise our -own country, tOjgire the farmer greater opportunity and security. We have asked the. King to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the^ system of canal communications. We can'st-reilg^hen the hands of the municipalities 'by reforming the land nating systems. In this I include the imposition of a rate on ground values., ? . ; . Experiments miay be made, with a | view to mitigate the evils of nori-em-plibyinent. " . It will 'be our desire so to amende the law as to giv€> freedom and security to the trade unions. . ,-'«'' In the struggle which will shortly be upon ua all "tihat we hold dear is at intake. •' In fighting for our open ports and for cheap food we are fighting against privilege, injustice, and monopoly. Against you is a party united in its determination to overthrow Free Trade. Let us, then, <be "worthy of our fathers, who won for us freedom.