IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2223, 22 June 1908, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES’ DEPUTATION. United Press Association. Copyright LONDON. June 19. Mr. Lloyd-Gpurge informed a deputation from friendly societies that the Government, meant to make membership of a friendly society a qualification for pension, and suggests the adoption of the following sliding scale: df a man’s income was 8s he would receive a St ite pension of os; if 9s he would receive 4s, until at I2s lie would receive Is.

A POLICY SPEECH,

MR. ASQUITH -DEFENDS THE

LICENSING BILL

United Press Association. Copyright (Received Juno 21, 4.15 p.m.)

LONDON, June 20

Speaking at a mass meeting at Birmingham in connection with the National. Liberal Federation Conference, Mr. Asquith said he staked his own political fortunes and, as far as he could, the fortunes of the Government and his party on the Licensing Bill. He had been told lie was foollnrdy, but his own belief was that he never did a wiser tiling. He referred to the ceaseless propaganda conducted by the tariff rerormers among the constituencies. He personally did not believe that the tariff y?suc was settled by the election of 1906. lie wondered bow Mr. Balfour’s tariff formula would enable the Motherland to give the colonics preference, considering that the colonies produced only raw materials and food. He declared the great objects if the Liberal Party were to equalise burdens, and to make lives brighter, and to break down the environment of squalor surrounding many lives.