Rhyl Record and Advertiser

THE GENERAL ELECTION. MASS MEETING IN RHYL PAVILION. The Sweeping Tide of Liberalism. The Lord Advocate Speaks. Tory Party's Contempible Position. Mr. Alexander Ure Scores at Mr Balfour's Expense. --=:: MR. HERBERT LEWIS ON THE ISSUE. Conservatives to Vote for Budget. MR. CARADOC REE IN FIGHTING FORM. Never before has such a large and more en- thusiastic political meeting been held in Rhyl, as that which took place in the New Pavilion on Monday night, when the Right Alexander Ore, the Lord Advocate, who has done such splendid work in popolarising the Budget, Mr Herbert Lewis, and Mr. Caradoc Rees, the well known Liver- pool barrister, were announced to speak. Mr Herbert Lewis, himself appeared to be struck with the vastness and thusiasm of the gather- ing, and at once remarked that u was the largest political meeting that, he had ever addressed in Rhyl. The place was packed and well over two thousand people were present, at a moderate es- timate. Both Mr Herbert Lewis. and Mr Ure were not due to arrive until a comparatively lite hour both having other engagements to fulfil before, hand. Mr Ure, who spoke at Conway and De- ganwy the same night, was not due until after ten, while Mr Lewis, who had been speaking at Mcstyn, was expected shortly after nine. Half- past eight was the time appointed for the meet- ing to start. Long before that hour the Pavilion was thronged with an intensely enthusiastic gath- ering of Liberals, many of whom had come from the surrounding districts to participate in 1 h meeting. On the platform were to be seen a hundred or more of well-known local Liberals from all parts of the district, including many well known ministers of religion, while Mrs Herbe-rt Lewis, accompanied by Mrsjacob Jones, occupied a prominent position on the stage. Mrs Lewis had a magnificent reception as did other pro- minent occupants of the platform, notably Mr Samuel Perks, and Mr John Asher (senr), who has openly proclaimed himself in favour of the Budget, and who took his seat amongst other Liberals as though he had been one of them all his life. The time of waiting quickly passed, thanks chiefly to the swinging political songs rendered by the liberal Club Choir, led by Mr Comer Owen, and to the frequent if impromptu de- monstrations which took place in response to some witty sally. The Chair was occupied by Mr E J Williams, who originally hailing from this district, has spent 30 years in Patagonia. The Chairman read the following letter from Dr. E. Hughes Jones who was to have presided I regret very much my inability to be with ycu this evening owing to being suddenly called away to Derby to a serious case of sudden illness. I feel all the more sorry as it behoves every one to show his appreciation of Mr H Lewis, splendid services to his country and particularly to his county, which he has served with renown to himself and benefit to his constituents. Take for example what Mr Herbert Lewis has done and the Offices he has filled Guardian of the Poor. River Dee Commissioner. Member and first ChaiTinan of Flintshire Coun- ty Council. First Chairman of the Technical Education Committee of Flint. And to him and the Committee over which he presided belongs the distinction of organizing and establishing the first series of County Technical Classes formed in the United Kingdom after the passing of the Act of 1889. How invaluable these classes are is shewn by the fact that in Scotland attendance is compulsory, though I am swry to say that the attendance here is much below what it ought to be considering the great educational advantages they offer. Because the best way to assist a country ag- ainst foreign competition is by education in the widest sense of the term add this is what Mr Herbert Lewis has seen and has successfully fought for. The best educational facilities from .the school to the University so as to give equal chances to all. I have only mentioned very briefly one section of his work, but he has been equally active on 'Parliamentary Committees advanced better pi"- and harbour accommodation, rights of the public over foreshore so that no portion of foreshore may be sold without consulting the local author- ity. Mr Lewis has advocated better houses for the working classes, better education for their ctul.I- ten, better conditions of work. His services have been so highly appreciated that now he has the honour of being I arliamen. ary Secretary to the Local Government Board. Trusting that we shall give him our whole hearted support and return him'with a triumph- ant majority." CONVINCING EXPERIENCE IN PATAGONIA. The Chairman, continuing, said he did not know that he had any special qualifications which entitled him to preside, unless it were that he had resided for 30 years in Patagonia-a protect- ed country—and, therefore, he felt that he knew something about the burning question of the day (applause.) After thirty experience of life in a protected country he strongly advised to have nothing to do with Tariff Reform (loud applause). It was only a new name for the old l'rotectn (Hear, hearl, under which their fathers suffered so much about 60 years ago Ilear, hear.) al- though he supposed there were only a few .pre- sent that night who remembered those days. But if the name had changed the nature of the -be.a.st (laughter) if they would allow him to say .so-had not changed and he might tell them iliat it was unchangeable {laughter.) Notorious o-ffendeirs often found it convenient to change their names (laughter) and unless they did they could not get among respectable company slaughter and applause.) It was the same with Tariff Reform (applause.) Turn it as they liked, it was still the old -Protection, and he asked them not to be duped in the matter. But they had been told that it was quite different nowadays, and that some kind and generous foreigner would fof them. He had been 50 years in the Argentine and he was quite certain that this gentleman was unknown there (laughter) and it was only on landing in England a few mopths 0 that be bad toeaid about his existence at all. (Laughter.) He asked them not to believe it, and not to be duped. If he could only find that generous foreigner who would pay the tax he would embrace him, even if he were a black. A LESSON FROM ARGENTINE. He would give them an interesting illustration from Welsh Patagonia (applause)—he was glad to see that they-had given the colony a clap. It deserved one. (Applause.) About eight yeirs ago, the Colony was visited with disastrous floods, and the colonists were naturally very much disheartened. They .had suffered severe losses, and a great many expressed their inten- tion of emigrating. Some of them did go to b Canada, while others went to other places in the Republic. The Argentine Government, however, did not want to lose the Welsh Colonists. Thev were too good to be allowed to go to Canada (laughter) and the Government told them that if I they remained in Patagonia they would give them I Zil,000 to assist them to repair the damage done, and further that no customs dues would be col- lected on the goods imported into the Colony. Now the Colony had benefitted to the extent of thousands of pounds by the taking off of those customs, and had prospered since by leaps and bounds. What he wanted them to take to heart was that if the import dues, did not bear hardly on the hard working, struggling Welsh Colonists, why did the Government take the duties off? iHear, hear, and applause). And if the foreigner paid as was alleged why did the Government take them off? He asked, them not to be the dupes of the lords {groans) brewer's Igroans) or monopol- ists (groans.) Let them see that the people were not so foolish as they looked (laughter and ap- plause, t MR. HERBERT LEWIS' HIGH QUALIFICATIONS. Mr E Buckley Jones who was cordially received declared that they were very fortunate in having as their representative a gentleman like Mr Her- bert Lewis to whom they all looked up. Even his political opponents recognised his sterling character and Parliamentary abilities (applause ) His worth was recognised in 'he widest sphere of British Politics, and in pursuance of that re- cognition he had been appointed to the Parli- mentary Secretaryship of the Local Government Board (applause.) In that position he would be in a position to be able to render very great assistance to a town like Rhyl. Frequently they- had to apply to the Local Government Board for power to borrow money (laughter) in order to enable them as a go ahead and up to date town to effect improvements, and it was of the utmost importance that someone, who was in sympathy with them and knew their requirements should in the position occupied by Mr Lewis in the late Government. <Hear, hear.) Mr H Lewis poss- essed in a very marked degree all the qualities which merited the support and confidence of every Ljt>e-ral. i.Applause.) First of all he would take his personal character. (Applause.) It was most important that they should have a man who would set them a high standard, who would be a model to the rising generation, and he could say without fear of contradiction that in Mr Lewis they had one of the best types of pub- lie men any country could produce. (Applause.) He was animated by the highest' ideals and was anxious to work for the good of his fellow coun- trymen. His chief claim upon them as Liberals was his unswerving, persistent, clever, and re- sourceful defence of the people at this time—the greatest crisis in their history when the Lords— A Voice Appealed to the people. (Uproar and cries of "Throw him out"' and counter cries, -No, o.") FIT AND PROPER." Mr Buckley Jones: When the Lords refused to allow the Government to carry on the work of the country. (Applause.) Some further unintelligible interruption occurr- ed and the many people standing up demanded that the interrupter should be ejected, while others sehouted. "No. No." Mr Buckley Jones then submitted the follow- ing resolution—" That this meeting thanks Mr J Herbert Lewis for his valuable services in the past; expresses its unabated confidence in him, and pledges itself to do its best to secure his triumphant return by a handsome majority (ap- plause.) Mr Jones concluded by saying that as they valued their birthright, which had been won for them by their forefathers, let them do their utmost to maintain the .supremacy and authority of the representative House (loud applause.) Mr E George Evans who was heartily received, declared that as one of the younges section of Liberals, he was proud to be on that platform. (applause) and to second the resolution. A gentleman had said that the House of Lords by rejecting the Budget, only wished to appeal to the people— A Voice Red herring. Air E G Svans: Let me tell you that it is a lie. (Loud applause.) Continuing he said that Lord Lansdowne speaking at the Sun Hall, ii.iv. erpool, last week, had said that if they voted for the Budget and gave it a new leaso of life, they would deal a death blow to Tariff Reform. That was the true principle upon which the Election was to be fought (applause) qamely whether they were to have Free Trade or Tariff Reform? AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACT. They had met there that night because of the most unconstitutional allt of the House of Lords (applause.) Who had ousted Mr Herbert Lewis and his colleagues from the seat of Government, and they came before them to ask them to return them again, to again place them on their feet, so that the traditions and rights of the people's Chamber should be upheld. (Applause.) He would give them a concrete case, as a humble member of the Rhyl Council-he was the latest recruit, he asked them as ratepayers what they would say if four neighbouring Lords whose names he mentioned were to come t. the Council and say they would not allow them to impose a certain Tate, or do a certain thing? There was some incoherent interruption at this juncture, and cries of "Throw him out'' went up. Mr E George Evans Xo, let him stop. Pro- ceeding he asked the ratepayers if they would stand such a thing for one moment (No, No) and yet the action of the House of Lords in regard to the House of Commons was a similar one. Dealing with the taxation of food he told them that Lord St. Aldwyn when Sir Michael Hicks Beach had said that when he imposed a shilling duty on corn, he did not think that it would raise the price of food, ibut he admitted after- wards that he had made a mistake. He refused to go to the House of Lords when the great debate was on, but wrote some weeks afterwards to the Times saying that J did not go to the House of Lords to speak against my friends." That was the sort and stamina of man they were asked to support—men who were afraid of their own convictions. HANDS OFF. They must send Ir. Herbert Lewis for Flint- shire and Mr J W Summers for Flint Boroughs. (applause) to the House of Commons with un- precedented majorities, so that they could up- hold the opinions of their great countrymen. Mr Lloyd George (loud applause) and to carry out the great principles of Free Trade. Let them say to Tariff Reformers in the name of God, in the name of Humanity, and in the name of the children of future generations—" Hands off, Hands off." (Loud aplause.) The resolution was then put and carried amid great enthusiasm. THE GREATEST OF ALL GOVERNMENTS. Mr G Caradoc Rees who had a rousing recep- tion, said that day had been dissolved one of the greatest, and best Governments of all time. (Loud applause.) It had been a successful Government probably because most of its members had sprung from the people (Hear, hear.) For the first time in the history of their country they had had a Government composed almost entirely of plain Misters That good Government would have still been in office, only a barrier in their Way, and they on that platform were there that night to ask them to sweep that barrier away (applause) and when the Election was over, it was their hope that that barrier would be swept away. He had faith in the present and hape for the future. (Applause.) He had the utmost confidence in the Liberalism of Mr Herbert Lewis (applause), and every confidence in the Liberalism of Mrs Herbert Lewis lapplause.) That Election had been caused by the Budget being thrown out by the Lords for their own benefit. been caused by the Lords throwing out the Budget and they were trying to confuse the issue by scare mongering. First confuse the issue by scare mongering. First of all the supporters of the Budget were all Soc- ialists and everything was red. The wearing of a red tie was a sign of Socialism (laughter), and the wearing of a red nose was a sign (Voice Of indigestion, loud laughter.) He was inclined to think that their opponents were suffering from political indigestion aloud laughter.) But after calling them all Socialists they went and em- braced the Chief Socialist in the country (laugh- ter) and hoisted him to the topmost column :n The Daily Mail (Laughter) not to frighten them with Socialism—no with Germany (laugh- ter and applause.) But they knew the character of that newspaper; they knew of Mr Lever's libel action, they had not forgotten the expanded telegrams they had not forgotten that the Chief Proprietor was in the House of Lords and they wanted to know he got into the House of Lords. (Hear, hear.) The -Liberals had been returned to power chiefly because the people were dis- gusted with the methods of the man from Bir- mingham—they were disgusted and sick to death of the methods which landed them into the dis- strous and evil South African war. (Hear, hear.) Four years had gone by, and he defied anyone to say that there was anyone in the Conservative Cabinet that was .the equal to any man In the late Cabinet (Hear, hear.) Would they prefer the sturdy Asquith or the meddling Balfour? (Loud cries of Asquith") Did they want Lloyd George to be returned to carry on his great financial policy? (Yes.) Did not they want Lord Morley to continue his benificent rule of India? (iVes). Or would they like Fisher or "Newspaper cor- respondent" Beresford (laughter) to be in com- mand at tlie Admiralty? He advised them to stick to the present men, and have nothing to do with the old gang (applause.) The Country was en. titled to have its own way, and he reminded them that in 1678, it was decreed that "the supplies to the Crown were the sole gift of the Commons." But the Lords had refused to allow the Com- mons to raise money for the Crown in the way the Commons wanted to. Dealing with Mr Lloyd George's proposals he said that in the old days the death duties as they went higher became less, and by making the duties heavier as the amounts were larger Mr Lloyd George was only putting the ladder the right way up. (Laughter.) As a fiend of his had remarked-" It was better to tax the dead rich than the living poor." Applause.) Then as to the super tax, he did not know wheth- er anyone present was troubled with an income of over £ 5,000 a year {laughter) but if there were he should think that a little extra taxation would keep their heads from becoming too big for their hats {laughter.) But the great bone of conten- tion had .been the Land Tax. Mr Lloyd Geerge had introduced a new canon of taxation under which the burden would be better distributed and easily collected. That which was made for all must be secured for alcl.. (Applause.) The people made the land values, and Mr Lloyd George said that 20 per cent of that value must go back :o the people,—and his (the speaker's) only regret was that more was not going back to the people (applause.) ALL ON THE PEOPLE'S SHOULDERS. The unearned increment was not unearend. The people earned it for the landlords who put it in their pockets. (Hear, hear.) What was the difference between land and soap in this con- nection? (Laughter.) The latter was a problem they had to face every day (laughter), but the more the people got together the cheaper it be- came. As a community grew most com- modities cheapened and intensified and it! wotrked out in favour of the community. But with regard to land the harder the community work the more they had to pay. (Hear, hear.) If they put electric cars down, up went the values in the centre because they brought more customers. Mr Lloyd George ask- ed why should industry be taxed like that? He said to the landlord:—"If you have land valued at £1,000 and the community send up its value by B500, that is due to their industry, and yet you go free." But there must be an end to that kind of thing said Mr Lloyd George (ap- plause.) Their opponents said that was a tax on capital. When people tried to frighten them with a èry like that it was. just as well that they should walk up and have an honest look at it. (Laughter.) If they taxed capital it was said that they would drive it out of the country, but they could not drive the land out of the country applause.) During the last 20 years buildings in large towns had grown to be much bigger, and now ofted consisted of from twelve to fifteen stories with the result that the value of the land had gone up four or five times in value—but wages had not changed." (Applause.) Elevators and lifts had been put in these buildings and the genius of the inventor had reflected into the ■pockets of the landlord. WHY WAGES DO NOT GO UP. Business men would not move from their busi- ness houses and go into a cheaper thoroughfare because tåey were afraid of losing business there- I by. Rather than do that they paid another JB500 or so. That was why employees did not get a rise in their wages. The more they paid for the land the less they were able -to allow for the wages of the working man. The best way of going back to the land was to get some of the Land back to the people. (laughter.) Even sup- posing the Budget did not pass what was the alternative to be. Lord Rosebery had been call- ed in, but he had aaid that was too early for him to give a prescription. (Laughter and applause.) But now Lord Rosebery had cried "Socialism and he had to get into the same bed as Mr Blatchford the Chief Socialist of the country. (Laughter.) But what would happen if the Bud- get did not comei into law? Land was going to escape them. (Hear, hear.) Dring monopolists were going to escape them (Hear, hear) and they tvould have to take on an uncertainly of putting' taxes on goods and food. '(Hear, hear. (Under which course of their epponents asserted that the foreigner would have to pay, and .more employ- ment would be found. As to the foreigner hav- ing to pay a remarkable circular had been issued by Mr Joseph Ranks, a great miller and a pro- minent member of Mr Chamberlain's "T .riff Commission," to his customers, intimating that in the event of any duty being put upon flour the price of that commodity would be raised by the amount of the puty imposed (applause.) If .flour to be dearer, could bread be cheaper? (laughter.) If cloth went up in price, would they get cheaper suits? When men put forward such arguments as Tariff Reformers did, one was in- clined to wish that the women of the country had votes (laughter). Let us lake prices of food in other countries. INTERESTING COMPARISONS. For instance in Great Britain, they could ob- tain a tin of Armours .brawn for 9d a tin, yet in Canada the same tin would cost Is 5d..A pound pot of Cross and BLackwell's jam cost them here 4d but in Canada a pot of the same size and quality would cost 9d. A four oz jar of Bovril cost in England Is 9d, but in Canada the price was 2s. 6d. They evidently could not find the foreigner to pay in those instance-, lau- ghter), and it was very much like putting a blind man in a dark room to look for a black hat that was not there (loud laughter). Burt" what were the leaders of the working men doing on the question ? If working men had no faith in Mr Lloyd George had they no faith in men like David Shackleton, Phillip Snowden, Keir Hardie Ramsey Macdonald, and others who had tra- velled in various protected countries, to study things for themselves ? They advised working men to have nothing to do with the taxation food or goods (applause)—and when theyr said that Germany were paying more for black bread than the Englishman did for his white bread, the Daily Express turned round and said— Well the Germans like it" (loud laughter). Then Tariff Reform would give more employ- ment according to their opponents. 'At present they imported about 130 millions worth of man- ufactured goods, but expected nearly 300 millions worth (applause). If they stopped the 130 mil- lions worth coming in, they would not be able to send out the 297 .millions worth, which they did at present (applause). STATE INSURANCE. There were cases where something should be done to assist skilled men who were thrown out of employment owing to the introduction of modern machinery. Such for instance as the linotype which would displace many composi- tors and practically rendered them unskilled. Mr Winston Churchill was bringing in an unem- ployment Insurance .Scheme to help those men when the hard time-came (applause). The na- tion wanted large families, to maintain its strength and position, but how were they going to help the man with the large family, not by taxing his food, because his children wanted feed"~> £ "(heat, hear), It them listen to what Mr Arthur Chamberlain said .{applause. He was the business man of the Chamberlain family {applause). He said-" A tax on bread is the cruelest tax on earth. The poorer a man is and the larger his family is the harder it presses upon him. Ill is a tax on little children and on the weak. I would rather die than vote for such a tax." CASE OF COTTON. Dealing with cotton he reminded the gather- ing that although cotton was grown in the Cn- ited States, Lancashire not only held the loom market, but actually exported 99 millions, and the states only exported 11 millions ( .pplause). And France and Germany with nearly five times their population, did not export one half of the cotton goods that England exported (applause). Great Britain also largely depended upon its shipping. In 1854 in the River Mersey, there were to be seen four Amrican ships to every English vessel, but since the introduction of Free Trade they would find at least four British vessels for every American vessel in American ports (applause). Captain Hawthorne (who was sitting in the front row of the auditorium) I have seen it myself. Mr Rees said that he had also seen it himself, and as the Board of Trade returns confirmed it, it must be right Slaughter and applause). In Portugal they had one Portuguesse vessel to 17 British, and in Russia, five to one (applause). And when they were reminded that the inhabit- ants of the United Kingdom only formed one thirty sixth of the 'population of the world, and they owned half of the shipping' it might make some of theE wonder. Let them just look at the map and try to iirid our little islands ?. it would make them wonder more (applause). By having so much shipping they practically owned one half of the ocean, and there was much truth in the song that Brittania Rules the Waves. At this juncture Mr Herbert Lewis, arrived and was greeted with tremendous cheers, and hur- rahs, the huge gathering becoming quite frenzied with enthusiasm. Led by the Liberal Club choir audience sung with great fervour "For lie's a jolly good fellow. EFFECT OF (PROTECTION. Mr Rees, proceeding, pointed out that their shipping had been buiLt up by interchange of commerce between themselves and peoples over the water, but Tariff Reform proposed to limit the interchange of commerce, which of course would have a most disastrous effect upon Bri- tish shipping. If their shipp1,n0 were hurt, the Empire would be in danger for most of their ports would be destroyed. They in Liverpool were proud of their port. ¡(Hear, hear), deal- ing as it did with one-tenth of the tonnage of the world (applause) and they did not want to see grass growing on its quays. They rather wanted' to see the port develop, by ships leaving there with manufactured goods and bringing back that which was. most needed at ,home-food (applause- Leaving the fiscal question, the speaker, said that their opponents never talked about South, Africa and it might not 'be on the map as far éLl they were concerned. (Laughter.) Then with re- gard to India they held peculiar views. Mr. Joynson Hicks had said that they had conquered India by the sword and intended to retain India by1 the sword. (A/Voice: So we shall.) No Iadiu would have to be retained by more peaceful methods.—a chain of kindness. In South Africa they might have overrun the Colony with battalions of soldiers and turned the inhab- itants into a sullen, rebellious people. A wise man from (Palestine had said that if you want to have everything,, you hare to give everything and the late Government instead of taking away their liberty, gave them more liberty than they bad ever had before, with the result that they now found men who had faced each other in bloody and fierce battle, working shoulder to shoulder in peaceful harmony and happiness. (Applause.) TBE HOUSE OF LORDS. The House of Lords were trying to get back what was taken from them 200 years ago, and their attempt to do so was the people's opportun- ity to further curtail their power which had been so grossly abused. (Applause.) The two Houses: were in conflict. One House represented them- selves, while the other represented the people. The Peer could face his constituency by gazing into a looking glass, while the members of the other House had to face thousands of'electors, and if their stewardship had been an unjust one, they would turn; him out. People must support the House of Commons if they wanted to control Y the country. The Peers themselves had admitted that they wanted reforming and said "If you will leave us alone we will sign the pledge." (Laughter.) It reminded him very much of the man who applying for. a job was told by an em. ployer that if he would bring his "char- acter he would give him work at once. Soon after the man returned and picked up his tools. employer, "No" curtly responded the man, "but you got your character?" asked the I've jolly well got yours, and I'm off. (Loud laughter).—Too long had the Lords kept the people under and they would be swept away in the flood that would soon sweep over the country (applause.) Mr Gladstone speaking for the last time in (Parliament fore casted that the greatest political struggle of the future would be between the House of Lords and House of Commons— the House of Privelege, and the House of the People. (Applause.) lie (Mr Gladstone) was walking on the mountains tops whilst they were a rambling through the valleys, for what he had said 15 years ago had proved to be true. (Hear, hear.) He was rejoiced to see that there was a re-birth of Liberalism. Liberalism after the spirit of the Grand old man, in his country's children (loud applause) and they were going to furthermore tolerate, privelege, patronage, and repression any longer. Let them march out con- fident, determined, and resolute, let them put the impress on the history of the beginning of the 20 century—•■•Welshmen were free men, and not slaves," and prolonged applause.) LATE BUT FUTURE MEMBER. The Chairman in announcing that Mr J Her. bert Lewis would then address them, alluded, to him as their late member, but he hoped future member in the course of a week or so. He add- ed that they were all proud of Mr Lewis as a Flintshire man (applause) but he (the Chairman) in particular was very proud of him because they were both Mostynites (laughter.) Mr Herbert Lewis whovwas. the recipient of another hearty and prolonged ovation, mingled with musical honours, thanked the huge gather- ing for the s-plendid welcome accorded him from the finest political meeting, .he had ever seen in Rhyl (loud applause.) He just came from two enthusiastic meetings, one at Carmel and the other at Mostyn—his native place and he thought that the spirit of those two meetings was reflect- ed in that great assembly. He could also HSS I-E them with pleasure that the same spirit animated the forces of progress throughout the whole coun- ty, and looked forward to an even greater triumph than that they attained at the last Election be- cause many Conservatives in the county wha had always voted Conservative in the past believed that the Budget of Mr Lloyd George (applause was the justest and rightest Budget formulated, as between man and man, and consequently had decided to throw in their lot with the Liberal Party (applause.) Their opponents in this elec- tion were extremely anxious to talk about anything and everything, but the Bud- get, (laughter) and the question of the House of Lords to them appeared to be quite a trivial on 3 Lord C-irzon made things so extrernelydiffi. culty for Lord Morley who succeeded him in ministering Indian affairs, advised the electors not to trouble too much about the House of Lords laughter.) but electors had troubled about the House of Lords, and regarded that House and the Budget as being the two great questions to be decided at this Election. {Applause.) A WELL KNOWN MONUMENT. A journalist who appeared to have spent six weeks in Germany, had been writing to that monument of painstaking accuracy, "The Daily Mail "Oüud laughter.) and had been trying to persuade the people of this country that there was something radically wrong about our defen- ces. But that red herring would not be followed by the British electorate (Hear, hear.) They knew that that .care had been raised in order to divert the real issue of the election. They had it on the evidence of the Prime Minister—and no-one was better qualified to speak than he— that their defences both by sea and land were ample to meet any call made upon them. As regarded land defences, two Conservative Secret. aries for War prepared schemes, which turned out to be abortive and utterly unworkable. Mr Haldane had produced a scheme of re-organ- isation which was admitted on all sides to have been a triumphant success. (Applause.) The security and defence of the country might safely be left in the hands of those great men into whose trust the control of the defences had been placed. (Applause.) IIOiST WITH WIIKIR OWN PETARD. Another attempt had been made to divert their attention from the real issues, before the electorate namely the question at Tariff Reform. Recently every elector in Flintshire had received a list of tariffs imposed inthe various European countries and what most struck him in connection with that list, was that .Russia, Spain, and Portugal stood at the head of the list. (Hear, hear.) Russia stood at the head of the list with 132 per cent and the people in that country were the poorest an dmost wrethed in the whole of the civilised world. Speaking of Russia reminded him that recently there was a tariff war between Russia and Germany and at the end "f war Russia stood where it was at 132 per cent, and hundreds of millions had been lost in trade, between Russia and Germany. And yet Lord Landsdowne had urged them to adopt Tariff Reform because they would be able to negotiate for better terms with foreign countries. What they did know about it was that the higher the tariff was the poorer and less flourishing was the country (applause.) That indicated that Tariff Reform meant less work (applause.) Then they were told to go in for Colonial Preference in order to place the Empire on a. sound basis (laughter.) They must give preference to the wheat grower in Canada at the expense of the poorest consumer in this country. That however, was not the way to consolidate the Empire, but the way to disin- tegrate it, and he trusted they would look upon Colonial Preference, as .something inimical to the great Empire to which they belonged (ap. plause.) The way to consolidate imperially was to carry out principles of freedom in all parts of the Empire .(applause.) It was that which had enabled them to hold together their glorious Empire. Soath Africa, after desolation and war had been restored to peace, progress, and pros- perity by the application of Liberal principles, and there- was no Colony in the British Empire that had not received its. charter of liberty from the Liberal Party. (Applause.}, "A NEW BUDGET." In th last few days, they had had a new Budget presented to them (laughter.) They had endeavoured to get an alternative scheme from j scame one, and had almost gone down on their bended knees to Mr Balfour to ask him to pro- duce aa alternative Budget, but without success. He had hitherto never seen one, but he wanted to know where they stood with regard to Tariff Reform'and what was it? (Laughter.) But then on the eve of this great Election when the electors were asked to decide on a great policy, they were invited to accept as an alternative to a plain- that was a policy plainly stated and set before them,—a mere surmise of the gasiest and flimsiest character. (Applause.) They wanted to know what it meant, and they were entitled to know what it did mean. (Hear, hear.) The "oracle" was dumb'iUaughter). He had been dancing upon an intellectual tight rope, and it had been an in- tellectual treat to watch his gyrations, but so far then,, had received no illumination whatever. (laughter.) But wha.t about the new "Budget" Resented to them in that constituency. The r hopes of that "Budget'* he might say, êôuld only be realised by the imposition of at least twice as much as that of the authorised programme, upon manufactured articles. Even supposing all those expectations were realised they were still left with a deficit. The Navy had been forgotton completely (laughter) but not from any lack of patriotism, but lack of means (laughter.) Old Age Pensions were promised, but they were not told where the money was coming from. But there was one new point in the latest edition of the new Budget namely the taxation of meat, and he wanted Rhyl people, to realise, that according to Birmingham expectations that Tariff Reform meant the taxation of corn and meat. He wondered what the caterers for the large number of visitors who came to Rhyl would think of that ? They ought to seriously ponder over the question, for an increased price of' foodstuffs meant a great deal to a place like Rhyl. (Ap- plause.) THE PLAIN STATEMENT. They had failed to elicit anything like a de- finitely alternative from Mr Balfour (laughter) but on the other hand they had a plain statement in Mr Lloyd George's Budget (applause) and that was the Budget that held thej field against all the other various Budgets that had been presented to them so far (applause.) It had stood a merciless raking of criticism for six long weary months and every shaft that the ingenuity of the opposition could devise, hid been aimed at it. And now, nearly a year after its introduction it stood foursquare to the world, holding its ground triumphantly (applause.) It appealed to their sense of justice and equity and hebelieved that that appeal was not going to be made in vain. (Loud applause.) He wished everyone would read the Budget right through, and no matter who he was and to what class he belonged he (Mr Lewis) was confident that he would come to the conclusion that it was the best Budget for him. (Hear, hear.) and that he stood infinitely more to gain than lose by it (ap- plause. He had been asked to say how the Bud- get would affect the ratepayers. Well, the pauper disqualification would be resioved from otherwise eligible applicants for Old Age Pensions, and would thereby relieve a large number of persons who at present were maintained by the ratepayers {applause) and would prevent others going on the rates. Then the ratepayers would also receive one half of the amount produced by the 1 -nd taxes (applause) the tax on the increment of land, the royalty tax; the tax on undeveloped land on reversions and leases. One half of the pro- ceeds of that taxation would go in relief of the tax payer, and the other half in relief of the ratepayers (applause). The value of the land upon which large communities lived had been raised by the toil, energy, industry, and enter- prise of the members of those communities and was it only right that a fair share of the proceeds from that toil and industry should be returned to those ratepayers who were now so heavily bur- dened and who had done their best to improve their towns (applause) with a view of attracting visitors or.more business? (applause). --A*-i«ww*w-. now they simply poured money into the pockets of the landowners who happened to own the land on which towns were built and who in many cases would say that the local ratepayers was not entitled to relief. A TRIBUTE TO MR. URE. He was not at all surprised therefore that the people wanted to talk about nothing but the Budget, and the more they talked about it, the more people convinced people were of it, ad- I vantages (applause.) In paying a high tribute to Mr Ure who would soon be speaking to the, Mr Lewis, alluded to him as one of the greatest and successful exponents of the Budget and that accounted for their opponents being so angry with him. He well remembered one of the greatest scenes in the history of the House of Commons. The House was. crowded to its ut- most limit by members, pressmen, and strangers. At last Mr Ure had come face to face with the man who had traduced him. It was on the third reading of the Budget. In the whole of his Par- liamentary life he had never witnessed such a triumph as the one attained by Mr Ure that night .(applause.) Mr Balfour had the last word but the verdict of the House was that he had been absolutely defeated in argument. Mr Ure .showed clearly and decisively that old Age Pensions could not be paid for under the official scheme of Tariff Reform. He shewed it so clearly that Mr Balfour was forced into accepting a consid- erable.part of the Budget (applause.) The prin- ciples of that Budget were indestructible and had come to stay (applause.) They had such a power of recrudescence that it was impossible to lay them. He remembered not long ago visit- ing the grave of an innocent man in Montgomery- shire—that of a man who had been hanged ior an offence o-f which he was innocent, and before his death he said that the gra s would never grow on his grave. Strangely enough the grass did not grow on his grave. There too was a grave at estminster over which the grass would not grow in which the Budget had been temporarily buried but it wouJd only be there a few weeks when there would .be a glorious ressurection (applause). Hie question before them w not what their op- ponents would have them believe, but simply whether the Peers or People were to rule? (1(.1<.1 applause.) MR. (TRE'S MAGNIFICENT RECEPTION. At this juncture about quarter past ten, Mr Ure walked on to the platform, and was greeted p 1. with a veritable tornado of applause and cheer- ing, the huge gathering rising en masse to honour and welcome him. Rarely, if ever has anyone met with such a magnificent reception in Rhv], and even Mr Ure himself the hero of a hundred or more enthusiastic Budget meetings appeared to be taken aback by the intensity of the welcome accorded him. As. the cheering subsided an or- ganised set of voices led by .the Liberal Cln b Choir loudly sang out—" B. A. L. F. 0. r. R. RATS." This proceeding seemed to greatly amuse the Lord Advocate who joined in the hearty laughter that went up from the vast as- sembly. Mr Herbert Lewis then hastily concluded his speech by speaking a few words in Welsh. I Mr Ure was then called upon to speak and on rising wae again made the recipient of another