IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2572, 5 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

MR LLOYD-GEORGE’S LIMEHOUSE SPEECH. ATTACKED BY THE OPPOSITION. United Press Association —Coi’YUIGUT. LONDON, August 3. Many of the Opposition speakers are complaining of the violence of Air Lloyd-George’s speech at Limehouse. Air Long, a leading Opposition member, addressing 20,000 Unionists at Cliurchwich, said that the speech “proves that Air Lloyd-George is attempting to destroy the great landed and propertied classes. The Liberals can no longer pretend that their polic}' is guided by financial considerations.” [ln bis speech at Limehouse, Air. Lloyd-George said that land was not merely for enjoyment, but for stewardship. Unless the landlords discharged the duties attaching to ownership, the time would come to consider the conditions under which land was held. His resolve in framing the Budget was that no cupboard should be bare, and no lot hard to berar.J

THE GOVERNMENT'S INSURANCE PROPOSALS. OPPOSED BY FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. (Received August 4, iO p.m.) LONDON, August 4. At the annual meeting of the Ancient Order of Foresters at Glasgow, SQO delegates were present, representing 900,000 members. Several Australian, Canadian, and American representatives were present. The High Chief Ranger stated that the High Court was prepared to oppose any Government’s undertaking insurance against sickness or invalidity, in opposition to the permanent friendly societies. The .Government could not provide benefits with the same satisfactory result. Nevertheless, the High Court would hesitate to oppose wage earners being compelled to insure against sickness. He had learned with grave concern that the matter was not to be referred to a Royal Commission, as tlie Government was resolved on legislation. The Independent Order of Oddfellows’ Grand Master, speaking to the Council at Newcastle, said that Air. Lloyd-George- was enamored of the German scheme of State insurance. It would have been better if he had taken tho friendly societies into his confidence. He (the ‘Grand Alastei) believed "the proposal to be fraught with danger.