THE NEW LIBERIALISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2189, 13 May 1908, Page 1

THE NEW LIBERIALISM.

A TBiAiNSFOBMATION. If ivc are to take Sir Jolm Brunner, member for Northwich, as a fcypical representative of his party, British Liberalism is being rapidly transformed 1 {says the “Auricland Star”) into a political faith that Gladstone and Bright and other apostles of the original creed would find it hard to recognise. iSir Jolm Brunner is a very prominent Liberal, who created a sensation last week by appealing to Mr Asquith, and hie colleagues to drqp_ “laissez faire” and adopt some modified 1 form of fiscal policy that would disarm the Unionist offer to 'promote England’s industrial and commercial interests and secure the welfare of her workers. Staunch Colxlenite organs like the “Daily News” refused to believe that so eminent a Liberal would' advocate the surrender of Free .Trade; but the “Spectator” frankly, though sorrowfully, admitted that Sir John Brunner had given in his adherence tlie heresy of Tariff .Reform. Sir John Brunner has. however, gone a stage further than this in his divergence from orthodoxy. He nowadvocates the nationalisation of t-lie railways and canals, and even of the mineral resources of the country, presumably to improve industrial and commercial conditions.. As judged by the standard of Colonial Democracy, British Liberalism is in many ways intensely conservative, and lit is a remarkable concession to the influence of the “New Thought” that Liberals are now to be heard openly advocating the nationalisation of public services arid natural resources, or that they have broken away from the limitations of party prejudice and tradition sufficiently to give even a qualified support to the cause of Tariff Reform.