IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2704, 7 January 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

MINISTERIAL SPEECHES. United Press Association —CorviuonT. LONDON, Jan. 5. Air Asquith, in a speech at Brighton, defended) . the equjitablo valuation of land and other features of the Budget. He reiterated the statements as to the supremacy of the House of Commons over taxation and' finance. Mr Churchill, speaking at Dundee, said a quarrel between democratic electorates and a one-sided, wealthy chamber had come at last, and the collision must involve a. constitutional change. ‘ ‘HEREDITARY PRINCIPLE OUT OF DATE.” Sir Edward Grey, in a- speech at Clayton, said that a, Liberal second chamber, if based on hereditary right, would become increasingly Conservative in course of time. He added: “The hereditary principle to the Liberals is out of date.” Mr C. H. Rason, Agent-General for West Australia, in a speech at Sheffield, denied that the oversea dominions were indignant at the House of Lord’s action. They, like the Motherland, were concerned- in the question of fair trade against free trade. He advised his hearers to weigh the fiscal qusetion. Let the Motherland be the "first consideration and then tneir kith and kin overseas. The Fiscal Reform League at a meeting held at Dublin, complained of the Redmondites refusing tariff reform to the detriment of Irish agriculturalists. The Nonconformist Unionist Association is actively promoting anti-Home Rule memorials. Mr William O’Brien has re-entered politics. He is conducting a vigorous campaign urging . the Redmondites that tyranny should be annihilated. Sir R. Porkes protests against the Wesley an s subordinating parliamentary action to the Free Church Federation’s methods which were inspired by ministers ’ who were brilliant preachers but bad political guides. Mr. Lloyd-George, speaking at St. Pancras, declares that the travelling menagerie of peers had visited almost every part of the Kingdom. They had never worked so hard in their lives before. NORTH IRELAND WAKES UP. Violent meetings are being held throughout Ulster as a protest against the proposed granting of Home Rule to Ireland. Two thousand persons attended a meeting held in one building in Belfast and 15,000 persons were- unable to obtain admission, the building being crowded. SPANISH REPUBLICANS EXTOL LLOYD-GEORGE. ~ MADRID, Jan. 5. The Spanish Republican and Social democratic party at Corunna is sending greetings to Mr Lloyd-George,- proclaiming him the benefactor of the universe. LORD LANSDOWNE DEFENDS THE UPPER HOUSE. (Received January 6, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. Lord Lansdowne, ypeaking at Liverpool, said that his opponents’ cardinal misrepresentation was that the Lords arrogated: to themselves the right of controlling taxation. He cited Lord Loreburn’s statement that the House of Lords had ample power to deal with money Bills, and as'ked what nere ample powers if they were never intended' to be exercised. His amendment for submitting the Budget to the judgment of the country was treated as if it were an anarchist bomb, sufficient to wreck every institution in the oountry. Ministers proposed a revolutionary change, in the constitution. They intended to substitute for the present system what would virtually be control by a single chamber. Pie corrjplained of the levity wherewith they approached the problem of the House of Lords’ future, and quoted Ministers’ vague indefinite utterances on the subject. THE LESSON OF THE BYELECTIONS. The record of the by-elections is thus stated by the “Daily Mail” : “The following in order of date are the seats won by Unionists since the general election: — Cockermouth Pudsey Bring Haggerston Mid "Devon Newcastle Ross (Hereford) Central Glasgow • Peckham Stratford-on-Avon N.W. Manchester Bermondsey “In addition, the Liberals lost Jarrow, Colne Valley, and Attercliffe to Labor. There has not been one single Liberal gain.”