IMPERIAL POLITICS.

West Coast Times, Issue 13732, 31 January 1906, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

London, Jan 30 Speaking at Dublin, tbe Hon Mr Bryce (Chief Secretary for Ireland) said he did not think that it was possible to make provision for work for the unemployed. To do so would necessitate such a change — lUchan increase— in taxation that the real workers, some possibly on the ed^e of poverty, would suffer for tbe'benefit of others who were not so industrious as themselves. The Executive of the City Conservative Association thanked Gibbs for resigning his seat and unanimously adopted A. J. Balfour as their candidate, after a momentary protest from 11. W. Russel, who objected to dual leadership. He declared that Balfour narer got. bold of the Democracy and never would. Sir Joseph Lawrence, a Tariffite, in supporting Balfour, urged that as regards tariff reform Balfour's views were much mere in consonance with Chamberlain's than many supposed. The Morning Post states'that upwards of one hundred tariff reformers have been elected. It says the real issue is whether there will be four or five parties in the House of Commons ; will Balfour lead a number of his supporters across tbe bridge, and, as leader of a united party, take his place at Chamberlain's side ? The tariff reformers want a difect answer. The Times Johannesburg correspondent Fays : — "By jerrymandering the Constitution tbe Government would please the Boer leaders and decide clparly in favour of a Krugerian regime. On the other band, by accepting the Constitution as they find it, they would best allow the colony, without prejudice, to work out its own salvation." Capetown, Jan 30 At the instauco of Cjlonel Sir A. VVoolsampson, sixty officers of irregular fo'cea at Johannesburg are calling a meeting of irregulars who participated in the #ar for the purpose of protesting against any tampering with the vital principles of the Constitution.