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CONSERV AT IV E CONFERENCE,,…
CONSERV AT IV E CONFERENCE,, WORKINGMEN S FEDERATION. VISIT TO CHrTEH. MR. CHAM IIEIILAINB SCHEME. ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT. I The X^ncashire. and Cheshire Conservative \Vork;in £ men's Federation paid a visit fro- Chester 'On Saturday for their fifteenth annual conference in tbft afternoon and a demonstration in the evening. Sir H. Nou-Karr, M.P., chairman of the Federation, of which Earl Egertos of Tatton is chief patron arti the Prime Minister president, presided over b.tl1 gatherings, whkh were held in the Music Hall. Sir Henry was supported at ,the Conference by Mr. Austin 'Taylor, M.P., Mr. D. Matter, M.P., Mr. W- T. Carter (e«:- i member of the Victorian Legislature, Australia),i Mr. B. C. Roberts (chairman of the Unionist Party in Alderman Salvidge (Liverpool), Mr. J. Parton (Liverpool), Mr. F. W. Deacesn (secretary of the Federation), Mr. H. W. Lovett (Unionist agent at Chester), oto. There was an attendance of 400 delegates from the following associ,mtions: --Ilaachester, Liverpool, Crewe, Chester, South Salford, Millgate and Shawforth, Heywocd (Central), Warrir.gton (Central), Tyldes- ley, Bury (Central), Bury and Elton C.C., -Bury and District Workingm«ai's Federation, Horwioh. Hyde, Higher Ince, Stockport Workingmen's 'Union, Pemberton, Bolton Workingmen's Union, -Farnwor-th (Lancashire), Wigan Operative Asso- ciation, Wigan (Central), Beaoonsfield Club (Roohdale), Rochdale Workingmen's Union, L. Blaokrod, Lancaster (Central), inifrienursi;, Altrinoham Workingmen's Union, Castleton Moor, Newton Heath, Mossley, Earlstown Con- servative Club, Patricroft, Eccles Junior, North Chadderton. Lord Newport Lodge, Great Lever, Ramsbottom, Warrington Junior, Ardwick, St. Helens, Littleborough, Winsford, St. Andrew's (Wigan), Beaoonsfield Club (Heywood), East Sutton Conservative Club, Westhoughton, and Edgeworth and Turton. Letters expressing regret at inability to attend were announced to have been received from Colonel Sir Howard Vincent, M.P., Coloneil W. Bromley-Davenport, M.P., Mr. E. Cotton- Jodrell, C.B., Mr. W. J. Gallow^, M.P., Mr. Thomas E. Tatton, Mr. R. Pilkington, M.P., the Hon. Alan De Tatton Egerton, M.P., Sir Elliott Lees, Bart., M.P., Mr. Beresford Melville, M.P., Mr. R. P. Houston, M.P., Colonel C. M. Royds, C.B., M.P., Colonel Lees Knowles, M.P., the Hon. M. White Ridley, M.P., and Mr. J. Grimble Groves, lVLP. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. The report of the Executive Committee, which was taken as read, expressed satisfaction at the growing power and influence of the Federation. Continued confidence was reposed in its influence and action by an increasing number of the work- ing class electorate throughout the two counties. The number of affiliated associations still con- tinued to increase, and there had been a slight addition to the list of patrons. The committee, in touching on various political questions, stated that in its amended character, the Education Act comprised a great measure of educational reform. With experience of its working, and the subsidence of Radical passion engendered through envy of its wide-reaching and effective provisions, a new and brighter era of educational efficiency might be confidently predicted. With- out impugning the motives of the Government with reference to the recent Licensing Act, ex- perience of its working had amply verified the objections taken by the committee in the Tast annual report. A protest against the black list" clauses of the Ace was then entered and forwarded to Mr. Ritchie. Subsequent events had conclusively shewn that these clauses were deeply resented by large numbers of citizens of every class, who, while not defending "habitual drunkards," had quickly perceived the opening which the Act afforded for stigmatising as such numbers of persons not properly within that category. They had equaliy perceived the facilities it offered to police tyranny and magis- terial autocracy. Believing tnat the rights and liberties of the people were sacred and inviolate, the committee resented attempts. at "ocercive" temperance not only as futile in themselves, but dangerous to national freedom. Fired with a furious zeal' to effect a wholesale reduction of public-houses and to confiscate the licences of perfectly respectable members of the "trade," numbers of magisterial fanatics had unwarrant- ably strained their legislative powers in this direction, perpetrated cruel injustice, and made themselves amenable to censure from every lover of equity and justice. A resolution of strong protest against this action was accordingly sent to Mr. Balfour by the committee, and the Premier had declared in manly tones that he would be no party to these confiscatory methods, and that his Majesty's Ministers consider com- pensation must be given in all cases where licences were withheld from those who had in no wise infringed the law. In that decision there was little doubt the Prime Minister truly reflected the wishes of a great majority of the British public. Conscious of continually diminishing confidence on tho part of the electorate in the time-worn and antiquated cries of Liberalism, and aware of the fatal effects upon the public mind of their wret-ehed advocacy of the Boer cause in recent years, attempts were now being made to form alliance with the socialistic elements of the Labour party. Juggling with the phrase of "Liberalism and Labour," it was sought to shew that they were analogous. Deceptive tactics of this kind had not so far achieved any conspicuous success, but political centres would do well to keep a wary eye upon this movement designed to catch the unreflecting and unin- formed. Fully convinced that on the sound rock of individualistic action alone were for the most part based the real interests of Labour, the com- mittee sounded a note of warning to the working classes not to advance too far upon the road of socialistic speculation, leading eventually to com- mercial decay, public extravagance, and national disaster. The latest and most important utter- ances of the Right lion. Joseph Chamberlain on the subject of Imperial and commercial unity fully vindicated the advocacy of the members of this federation, who for many years had con- 5Isteatly urged these views upcn tne electorate. The Chairman otfered a hearty welcome to the delegates and sa d he should be. expressing their teeangs if he said how deeply they were indebted to the Uri lori -;t Association ,n Chester for afford- ing them their hospitality on tho occasion. (Cheers.) In moving the adoption of the report, he said that those who read it would bo struck with the btrength and the flour.shing condition of their federat on. Since their last annual gather- ing .Lord Salisbury had brought to a close his brilliant career as Premier, and had been followed by a thoroughly competent successor in Mr. Bal- four, who had ab!y directed the policy of his Majesty s Government during the past year. The unionist party had introducrd ;n the House of Commons a most important Bill dealing with the thorny question of Irish land. He believed that some measure of that kind was absolutely neces- sary in order to bring Ireland to a state of peace, contentment and prosperity. One of the great difficulties in Ireland had always been that system of dual ownership which was the unhappy legacy of Mr. Gladstone's land policy in 1881. That was the great difficulty which the present Govern- ment had to deal w th. Although it was quite possible tha-t the Bill might require amendment, he believed that it was framed upon lines of sound principles, and that they would see that in a few years it would effect the pacific objects of its promoters. Reference was made in the report to the Labour party. He chimed for their own federation that in the fullest ~:ense, it represented the labour interests of the workingmen of the country. There were some Labour members in the House of Commons and some outside in whom he had no confidence. He held that the Unionist and the Conservative party had tho true labour and industrial interests of the country at heart Going even further, he held that that party did more in the past and were doing more now, for the great interests which were bound up with labour and capital than any Government which had ever preceded them. If the Liberal party had no better cry for the future than the statement that they were go ng to be identified with certain eo-called Labour representatives I in the House of Commons, their (ause would prove to be a very bad one. (Applause.) Alluding to Mr. Chamber- lain's visit to South Africa, he said we could look upon it as a source of pr:de that it had been left to a Unionist statesmnn to carry out such an im- portant step a- that. Ho believed the fruits of the Colonial Secretary's visit would fee very great in the near future. Mr. Chamberlain had already accomplished a great deal; he. had already laid the foundation of peace and prosperity in that important part of hi.; Majesty's domin'ons. He had established a lasting friendship between the Boer subjects of his Majesty and the British sub- jects of his Majesty in South Africa. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Chamberlain had made a most impor- tant speech. About a week ago he foreshadowed his idea of what Imperial federation meant -(clieers)-an(i though no doubt one of the bonds of sound Imperial federation must be heartfelt sentiment, at the same time another most impor- tant bond was that of commercial prosperity and commercial union. He (the chairman) for one thought that in that speech Mr. Chamberlain had laid down the lines of a most important Colonial policy, which he (the chairman) hoped would bear fruit before many years were past. (Cheers.) We had in that question one of the greatest im- portance to all the constituencies, and especially to the great industrial communities of Lancashire and Cheshire. The present Government might have made mistakes here and there. It was not M' possible for any Government to have been in power for nearly 18 years without occasionally making small mistakes, and occasionally laying themselves; open to hone.it and friendly criticism of some of their supporters. Yet he was there to say that he firmly bWieved this was the best Government that the country had had for many years, and that they were worthy of the confidence of the members of that federation. Mr. F. W. Deacon seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously. TTtE GOVERNMENT'S SUCCESS. Mr. Austin Taylor, M.P-. moved—"That this conference of the- Lancashire and Cheshire Con- servative Workingmen's federation offers its hearty support. to the general policy of his Majesty s Ministers, espcel ally in relation to the Education, Irish, and South African questions. It ab-& congratulates the Prime Minister and the R ght Hon. Joseph Chamberlain upon the success- ful conclusion of a lasting peace, mviews with sp..tisfact on the tangible advantages accruing from the visit of the Colonial Secretary to South Africa, and hails with pleasure his recent declaration in favour of preferential commercial treatment to the colonies as being most calculated to perman- ently uphold our mutual trading interests and further the cause of Imperial unity." The speaker said he believed that the great municipalities and the local authorities generally throughout the; country were "fully competent to discharge the duties connected with the education of the young wisely entrusted to them by the Government in the Education Act. He believed their policy, while rightly safeguarding the interests of re- ligious instruction, would be progressive—con- ducive to the best interests of the children, and opposed to all reactionary features. With regard to Irish land, he considered that the Government had done well in extending to Ireland a broad and sympathetic handling of a most difficult subject. He considered that in the interests of peace and of order they could, without weakening for one instant their determination to have no Irish Par liament sitting as an independent assembly, get rid of an intolerable yoke which both landlord and tenant in Ireland had pronounced impossible. (Cheers.) As to the imperial issues raised in tnat resolution, they all rejoiced at the magnificent and colossal work which had been achieved in South Africa by Mr. Joseph Chamberlain. (Hear. hear.) It was written of a statesman equally great that he had made commerce and industry flourish by means of war, and they might say of Mr. Cham- berlain that he was making commerce and industry and agriculture to flourish in South Africa in spite of war, and almost as a result of the processes to which that war had given scope. They all wel- comed with enthusiasm from the lips of Mr. Chamberlain anything in the way of a suggestion which would draw closer together the bonds of union between the mother country and the colonies. It was a magn ficent conception this idea of linking up the British Empire, not merely by the bonds of sentiment, valuable as they were but also by the bonds of a common commercial and material interest. It was all very well to rely upon the bonds of sentiment, but if we could sup- plement those ties of attachment by the common ties of commercial interests, mutually entertained, we strengthened inconceivably the whole of the British Empire upon its component parts. We must look at the matter as practical men. When we considered the total trade of the Empire we found that it cons'sted of the enormous figure of twelve hundred millions per annum, divided in this way. There was seven hundred millions per annum done by the mother country in which the: Colonies had no share; there was two hundred millions per annum done by the Colonies in which the mother country had no share; and there was two hundted and fifty millions per annum in wh:ch th" mother country and the Colonies were equally interested. He believed Mr. Chamberlain woul(L not be con- tent in this matter with mere vague generalities, If he mistook not, Mr. Chamberlain had some scheme already tabulated in some pigeon hole which he was prepared at the right moment to lay before the country. If it was sought to transfer some of the seven hundred mllion; of trade which the Mother Country did with foreign nations to the benefit of our own colonies, we must be careful that we did not injure the material interests of the great industrial populations of these islands. (Hear, hear.) No one desired, and Mr. Chamberlain least of all, to enfeeble the heart in his endeavour to give additional life to the extremities, and if the imposition of taxes upon our food and raw materials were in any way to overburden and injure the working-classes of this country, he, for one, would have to reserve his liberty of action until he was convinced by the workingmen themselves that they were prepared to make that sacrifice in the cause of Imperial unity. If Mr. Chamberlain fulfilled his promise it might be one of the great questions which would deo:de the next election. In conclusion, Mr. Taylor expressed h s belief that in taking the policy of the Government in its Imperial and local aspects we had good cause to rejoice that the destinies of this great Empire were in such hands. (Cheers.) Mr. W. T. Carter, in seconding, said the fear had been expressed that the Colonies could not feed this country, but whoever sa d that had no idea of the vast capacity and area of the Colonies. Mr. Chamberla n, in the policy he outlined, saw that this was the only way to cement the bond of union between Great Britain and the Colonies. Britain must remain the heart of the Empire, and unless Britons were true to themselves and bound in indissoluble union with these outer regions of the Empire, then he knew-for he knew the drift of the Colonial mind in this matter-that therel might be a great federation of British dependen- cies with England left out of it. The resolution was carried unanimously. FOOD SUPPLIES IN TIME OF WAR. Mr. F. W. Deacon (Manchester) moved a reso- lution expressing satisfaction with the appoint- ment of a Royal Commission upon the? subject of our food supplies in time of war, and the hope that such Commission might recommend the giving of special advantages to home and colonial products. He said that with regard to the regis- tration fee on corn the action of the Government had been a case of "Polly put the kettle on, Suky take it off again." Dear bread there could never be so long as our Colonial acreage was adequately cultivated, and they hoped that the new Royal Commission, of which their chairman (Sir H. Seton- Karr) was a. member, might see fit to encourage home and foreign produce. Mr. D. Maclver, M.P.. who seconded the motion, reminded the federation that its action was consistent in objecting to the removal of the grain duty, because a year ago, at their annual conference, they upheld the action of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach in having imposed those duties. The United States raised up barriers of hostile tariffs against the work of the English workingman. and would not take his wares. Those fore gn countries that did a large business with us did not do it out of kindness to us. They wanted to sell their wares to Great Britain, and when the grain duty was put, on last year the United States carriers lowered their tariffs and themselves thus paid the duty. On the authority of the "Times'' of Friday last the average price of wheat in England was 27s. 9d. per quarter, as compared with an average price of 31s. Id. per quarter. We imported two thirds of our fooa "supplies from abroad, and mostly from countries which declined to take the products of our industry in return. Was that a healthy state of things? Were not the want of prosperity of agriculture m Ireland, the depopulation of the rural districts, the consequent overcrowding of the towns, and the housing problem all due to th s fact? He as a carrier by sea saw behind the scenes, and knew how unwise we were to depend upon foreign nations so much for our food sup- plies. The American Morgan combination had got nearly the whole of the finest vessels trading across the Atlantic, and they sailed them under across the Atlantic, and they sailed them under the British flag. The same people controlled the American railways, and some of those in this country were foolish enough to congratulate them- selves on that state of things, and to point out that the Morgan combination had given a great deal of money—too high a price-for those ships. No doubt that was a good thing, for those who sold their ships. Mr. Morgan and his friend; were wise in their generation. They had bought the ships, but they had bought the trade, even if the ships had proved themselves only worth the price of old iron. If Britain were in trouble the Mor- gan combination might make a corner in grain or lay up their ships. We could not depend upon a foreign supply of food. The law should be altered to require that two-thirds of the controlling in- terest of ships flying the British flag should be in British or Colonial hands. The grain duties lay very close to the resolution. If the grain duties were withdrawn the British Exchequer would be 2 millions of revenue short, and that at present which was largely paid by the foreigner would have to be paid by the English people and it would come home to every constituency in Great Britain He hoped the Resolution would be carried by such a majority as would enable him to go back to London and say that, so far as the Lancashire and Cheshire workingmen were concerned, they would rather see the grain duties paid by the foreigner than by the British taxpayer. (Cheers.) Mr. J. H Bottomley (Liverpool) seconded. He said they were delighted that the question of preferential treatment or fair trade was coming to the front. The more we opened our ports free for the receipt of foreign goods, the more foreign nations were inclined to bang the door in our faces when we sent our goods to their ports. The people at home and our own people across the seas ought to work together better in regard to com- merce than they had done in the past. Although ha approved of the Government's putting an import duty on grain, he also approved of their taking it off, because their political opponents had dealt very unfairly with the Government in connection with that matter. (Hear, hear.) THE REPEAL OF THE CORN DITTY. The Chairman remarked that the Royal Com- mission on our food supplies had held two sitt ngs that week, and they would meet regularly through- out the session. He believed the work of that Commission would be a work of the utmost nationa' importance. Mr. H. J. Prica (Chester) wished to know whether Mr. Maclver intended to bring before the House of Commons a motion against the re- outsion of the oora duty. I The Chairman remarked that he thought the proposed repeal of the corn duty was one of the little mistakes of the Government, and he intended to vofo against it. Mr. Chaplin was heading a movmnent to bring on an important debate on tfea second reading of the Budget Bill, when the whole question would be thoroughly threshed out. Thevc were a large number of loyal supporters of the Government who were at present opposed to thfe remission of thos3 duties. If it was desired, the following words might be added to the reso- lution:— "And with this view to ask the Govern-; ment to reconsider the ^question of the repeal of the corn duties." Alderman Salvidge (Liverpool) thought in this matter they ought to give the Government time to fully weigh up the situation. He believed Mr. to fully weigh up the situation. He believed Mr. Chamberlain's speech was really paving the way so that the Government might at the proper time bring something forward of a substantial charac- ter in reference to this matter. We ought to go in for an alteration of our fiscal system upon the lines of Mr. Chamberlain. To pass the resolution with the addition suggested might lead to a mis- understanding. Mr. Maclver stated that he did not expect to have an opportunity of bringing forward a motion in the House, but Mr. Chaplin was doing so in a form he (the speaker) quite approved of. The Chairman said after the expression of op mion. he would put the resolution as it stood on the agenda. This having been done so, the reso- lution was carried unanimously. CHURCH DISCIPLINE. Mr. S. Barton (Liverpool), on behalf of the Liverpool Workingmen's Association, proposed a resolution in support of the Church Discipline Bill as introduced by Mr. Austin Taylor, and said that it would be a great advantage to the Bishops if the Bill were passed, because it would relieve them of responsibility. Mr. W. P. Bridge (Manchester), in seconding. said that those who supported the Bill had no de- sire to interfere with the comprehensiveness of the Church of England, but they held that law and order must be established. They were not fight- ing imply against lights or incense, but against the Mass and the Confessional, or any other form of priestcraft which was being put on them. The Bishops had made no serious attempt to deal with lawlessness in the Church, and there was there- fore need for serious action. Mr. Cripps had brought in a rival Bill—("no, no")-and he wished to know whv he did not do so before the Church Discipline Bill No. 1 attained such a good posi- tion in the House. Mr. Cripps's Bill was ridicu- lous. It might do for the middle ages, but it would not do for to-day. Mr. Cripps w'shed to placo the power in the hands of the Bishop-, who had neglected their duties, but what was really required was a lay judge. lay courts, and an un- biassed judgment. The loyalty of Conservative workingmen was being very seriously strained by the action of the Government in that matter, and they must be careful not to strain it to break- ing point. (Hear hear.) The mot'on was adopted. LICENSING COMPENSATION. Mr. F. Fearneley (Salford) moved: "That th:s conference desires to impress his Majesty's Min- isters with the necessity for their giving facilities for the passing of Sir William Hart-Dyke's Bill on the licensing difficulty, and hopes that the Government will give their support to that measure, and at the earliest opportunity bring in a Compensation Bill that shall obviate injustice being done, in the name of public convenienco, to licence holders who have not in any way in- fringed the law of the land." Mr. George Mason (Manchester) seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. ALIEN IMMIGRATION. The following resolution from the Liverpool Workingmen's association was proposed by Mr. Austin:—That this conference views with alarm the increase of alien immigration, and hopes that the Government will at an early date introduce legislation to stop indigent foreigners from being landed in this country." In Liverpool, he sa d, where once there were residences of comfortable English working people there were now Jewish colonies. He had no wish to disparage the Jews, but it stood to reason that if so many thousands of these alien immigrants camo to this country British trade must suffer. Mr. R. Oldfield (Altrincham) seconded this, and The Chairman said that he and many Un'onists regarded this as a matter in which the Govern- ment ought to move definitely. He had no doubt that when the report of the Royal Commission sitting upon the subject was presented the Govern- ment would act. BUSINESS. The Treasurer (Mr. A. Bennett, of Warrington) having made a bnef statement, urging the need for increased funds, there were re-elections of the following officers: -President, Mr. Balfour; chapman. Sir H. Seton-Karr; secretary, Mr. F. W. Deacon; and Executive Committee. The usual votes of thanks closed the proceedings, and the delegates adjourned to the, Assembly Room attached to the Unionist Club, where they were entertained at tea.
MASS MEETING. ♦——
MASS MEETING. ♦—— SPEECH BY MR. BONAR LAW. THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR. THE FUTURE OF BRITISH TRADE. I AUSTRALIAN PATRIOTISM. In the evening a mass meeting was held in the Music Hall. Sir H. Seton-Karr., M.P. presided. Sir Edward Carson, the Solicitor-General, who had been announced as the chief speaker, had written to the chairman stating that owing to an attack of neuritis his medical man had absolutely forbidden him to come down to Chester. In his place Mr. H. Bonar Law, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, it was explained by the chairman, had come at the greatest personal inconvenience In addition among those upon the platform were Mr. D. Maclver, M.P., Mr. Austin Taylor, M.P., Sir Horatio Lloyd, Mr. W. T. Carter, Alderman Salvidge, Capt. and Mrs. MacGillvcuddy, Dr. and Mrs. Jephcott, Dr. Duff, Messrs. B. C. Roberts, Geo. Dickson, W. H. Churton, John M. Frost. F. E. Roberts, John Dickson, C. Cooper, T. W. Chalton, James Knight, C. Bennett (Chester) J. Bairstow, G. H. Reynolds, D. L. Hewitt, Wm. Williams, Brunton, E. Dean, G. F. Cox, G. Baxter, Warren Trevor, J. Barber, W. J. V. Walley, H. J. Price, J. Arkle, J. W. Richmond, Trevor Small, F. Moody, J. MiTin-, J. W. Lovett. &c. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. Yerburgh, M.P., Col. Sir Howard Vincent, M.P., Mr. Groves, M P., the Hon. M. W. Ridley, M.P., Mr. Bromley Davenport, M.P., Mr. H. J. Tollemache, M.P., and Colonel Cotton- Jodrell. Before the opening of the meeting patriotic songs were given by Mr. A. M. Proctor and Mr. H. Gandy, to the accompaniment of Mr. R. Thomas on the organ. The Chairman thanked the Unionists of Chester for the welcome that had been extended to the federation on the occasion of its annual conference, and announced with regret that Mr. R. A. Yer- burgh, the member for the city, had been com- pelled by his dootor's orders to remain away from the day's gatherings, to which effect that gentle. man had sent a telegram. He happened to be a personal friend of Mr. Yerburgh's, and he should like to take that opportunity of venturing to con- gratulate. that mportant constituency on being represented in the House of Commons by so able a member as Mr. Robert Yerburgh. (Cheers.) He need hardly say that he trusted so long as Mr. Yerburgh's services were at their disposal they would never think of changing their representative. (Cheers.) Their demonstration the chairman added, was held in support of his Majesty's Government. Although he was not pre- pared to argue, and it was not his business to argue, that the present Government was the most perfect and th? best that was ever seen, yet on the pc other hand he thought he might say that they had a Government in whom the members of the federa- tion and the Conservatives and Unionists of Chester had absolute confidence. He believed, in fact, that they were the only possible Govern- ment for this country. (Cheers.) On practical grounds the present Government had many good points. In the first instance they had a good work- ing majority in the House of Commons of 140 votes. That meant good business for the country, and it meant that whatever measures were intro- duced by the responsible Government would be carried through the House of Commons, and probably through the Houe of Lords. But far more important than that, and the reason for the great majority, was that the Government had a pol.cy in which its supporters all believed, and which they all meant to maintain. They intended to maintain the necessary strength of our naval and army defences, and they intended by all pos- sible methods to maintain our great system of Imperial federation and our friendly relations with all our great self-governing Colonies. Further, they were prepared at the right time, and in the right way, to pass all reasonable domestic measures for the benefit of the United Kingdom. They had at the head of their party men in whom they had absolute confidence. They believed in Mr. Arthur Balfour, regarding him as the worthy successor of that great statesman, Lord Salisbury, whose mantle he had taken up. and they believed in Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, whom they regarded as one of the best Colonial Ministers and states- men that th:s country had ever known. (Cheers.) OUR POSITION AFTER THE WAR. Mr. Bonar Law. M.P.. who had a hearty recep- tion, addressed himself first to the position of this country at the close of the Boer war, declaring that as a nation we were stronger, and, what was not less important, we were known to be stronger now than when the war broke out. For that re- sult we had to thank in no small measure the sup- port we received from our colonists in all parts of the Empire, and the great statesman who through- out that long struggle represented the colonies in the councils of our Sovereign. He did not claim that the Government deserved any cred:t for 1 the resolution with which that struggle was car- ried to an end, because the poople of the country I had made up th-eir minds on the subject, and if the Government had -vaccilated they would not have been io. power for a single week. (Hear, hear.) He did not claim that the Government had made no mistakes, but of the Government they could truthfully say that it did not make the worst of all mistakes, that of not being taught by their errors. The most essential question in regard to South Africa was the settlement now following the war. What had already been achieved showed that results far better than the most sanguine of those who had thought on the subject antic pated were being attained. The I great bulk of our troops had been brought back, and the great majority of the Boers had been repatriated. (Applause.) Mr. Chamberlain suc- ceeded in his mission because he shewed every- where in South Africa exactly the qualities which had made him so respected at home; he sad everywhere exactly what he meant, and in a way that no one could mistake his meaning. During the Easter recess Mr. John Morley, who professed to look upon himself as a financial expert, was bu-y making attacks on the Government He told his audiences that during the last three or four years the National Debt had been increased to tho extent of £ 135.000,000. That was perfectly true, but they must go a little further back and ask what was the cause. The cause was the South African war, and, therefore, the question was not whether the Government ware justified in increas- ing the National Debt, but whether they were rght in waging that war-a. question which the people of the country had already answered. Could anything be more futile than to approve oi the end, and yet to object to the only means by which that end could be achieved? THE ARMY SCHEME. Though it was true that our expenditure had in creased, it was also true that the expenditure of some other nations had increased to an extent greater than our own. At present the criticism on the expenditure for defensive forces had all been directed to the expenditure on the Army. The Army scheme had been criticised, and the total number of men wo were to maintain had also been a subject of criticism. The Army Corp3 scheme. which was now so much criticised, was exactly the same scheme which when introduced into the House of Commons two years ago was received as favourably as anything ever was received m the House. and was received still more lavouraoiy by the country as a whole. One of the ma n ob jccts of the scheme was to decentralise the Army to some extent. He believed that it would g ve opportunities of testing the quality of junior officers such as had not existed before, and it would enable us in times of peace to find out who were the men best fitted to serve us in time of war. What had given some impetus to the critic sins of the Army was the fact that some of it had come from men on the Unionist side of the House. It was a fact that nearly all the members on that side of the House who had been openly opposed to the scheme of the Government were men who had served in the South African war. He would re- mind them that all these men served in compara tively subordinate positions, and they had a very narrow outlook. It was not unreasonable to think, therefore, that the amount of knowledge they de- rived there of m litary matters was only sufficient to hide from them the full extent of their own ignorance. Putting their opinion against the opinion of th:1 Cabinet, who had carefully considered this subject, and against the opinion of the Com- mander-in-Chief, it was not too much to say that the balance of probability was that the Govern- ment were right and their critics were wrong. (Appkiirc.) But the question of the particular scheme was, after all, mainly one of detail and the main criticism was that directed against the size of the Army. The greatest of Br tish interests was and always must be, peace. Our naval and mill tary forces were defensive forces; they never ought to be offensive forces. If there was a dangc-r--h, did not think there was—of the fact that we had a great Army making us aggresa ve. was there not some danger also if we had an in efficient Army that the policy of other nations Awards us would be different from their policy Xr, we i,ad »n officiont Army. It «. »ot »™. question. It'was simply the quest .on whether w. as a nation were to be a Little England "Big Britain." (Applause.) TRADE EXPANSION. Continuing, the speaker sa.d they saw it frequently stated in the Radical Press that the working classes of the country were be- ginning to ask themselves what was the advan- take of an Imperial policy to them, and that they were finding it made no difference to them. It made all the difference, however. The most im- portant thing to the working classes was the prosperity of our foreign trade, and the first essential to prosperous trade was national security. There was another question in con- nection with trade. He-did not know whether they realised how completely as a nation we were dependent on our foreign trade. We were de- pendent upon it not only for our position as a great nation, but a large section of the popula- tion of these islands was dependent upon It for their very existence. Our population was steadily increasing, and if we were to attain even the level of prosperity we had now reached we oould only do so by keeping the trade we stiil had and by a steady expansion of that trade. The ex- pansion of our trade could only come from two directions—from an increase with those portions of the world which had not yet reached a. high degrea of industrial civilisation, such as South America and the Far East, or from an increased share of the trade which was done in the British Empire itself. (Hear, hear.) Let them remem- ber what had been done by the present and pre- vious Unionist administration in the way of keep- ing markets for our trade. The possibilities of South Africa, for instance, were simply enormous, and it was no exaggeration for him to say that many of those present would live to see the whole cost of the war, great as it was, paid many time; over in the volume of trade which we could do with South Africa. (Applause.) The Government had done much more than any previous Govern- then had done in pegging out claims for posterity." The best hope for the increase of our trade was to be found within the British Empire itself. (Applause.) A few years ago Canada gave preference to British goods. He had care- fully examined the figures, and he was well within the mark in saying that we did at least 20 per cent. more trade with Canada now than we would have done if that preference had not been granted. It meant not only an important cle- ment in British trade, but it opened up a. ques- tion which in importance was second to none in the whole range of British politics. BRITISH TRADE IN BRITISH HANDS. What was the question of the hour? The ques- tion of the hour was that raised by the speeches delivered on Friday last week by the Prime Minister and the Colonial Secretary—the ques- tion of a serious attempt to keep more com- Pletely British trade in British hands. That was the Isme that had been brought to the front; it was a great issue, and it was probably the most momentous political question on which this generation would be called upon to decide. The Opposition papers had made attempts to read in tiie speeches of Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain evidence of a conflicting policy. There was no such evidence. Anyone could have seen what was the actual fact; that they struck the same note, and were in such complete harmony that the policy expressed in the speeches was a policy arranged beforehand between the two statesmen. The question they had brought to the front was simply whether our fiscal system was to be treated as something which was to stand on its own merits or whether we were to look upon it as something «o sacred that it would be impious to name except in accents of reverential worship. It was not a question of Protection; there was no one in the Government who suggested Protection. Mr. Chamberlain himself said he believed in Free Trade. He (the speaker) believed in Free Trade, too, but only on conditions, and on this condition above all-that it continued to pay us. that the game was played fairly—(cheers)—and that our fiscal system was not tQ be used as a weapon by which successfully to wrest our own trade from us. (Renewed cheers.) We had to decide whether our present system paid us, or whether some modification of that system would not pay us better. Mr. Asquith told us if we made any change we should lose our commercial supremacy. What was the use of his talking of maintaining our commercial supremacy? That commercial supremacy no longer existed. It had been wrested from us by another country which was Protectionist up to the hilt. The foreign trade of the United States already exceeded ours, and every year it was more completely leaving us behind in the race. CONDITIONS CHANGE. There was no more difficult or mysterious ques- tion than the way trade ebbed and flowed. The conditions of trade which were good for cne generation under one set of circumstances must not necessarily be good for another generation under another set of circumstances. He no longer believed that it was possible to find any simple plan, auy nostrum, which might be called Free Trade which would meet trade conditions at all times and under all circumstances. It was no more easy to find that than it was for men of a previous age to find the philosopher's stone. Mr. Asquith pointed out. perfectly truly that the total foreign trade of this country was 800 millions, and that of that total 200 millions, or only one-fourth, was done within the Empire, and he asked us, Are you going to risk losing three-fourths for the sake of getting a bigger in- crease of one-fourth?" What amount of that trade did we run the risk of losing? At this moment the tariffs of all the world were directed in such a way that they told unfairly against us. If Germany proposed an alteration in her tariffs, and the United States, Russia, or France remon- strated with Germany, she paid attention to the remonstrance, because she knew the other countries named could hit back. We -.v,a-e the only country unable to hit back, consequently the tariffs were as -hostile to us as it was pofciible to make them. Already the only share of that trade which we got was a share which t w; s im- possible for them to prevent us from getting. (Hear, hear.) He had looked into the figures, and it was almost startling to find how large a propor- tion of our manufactures already went to the Empire itself, and how steadily and rapidly that proportion was inoreasing. Last year, of the total amount of out ported manufactured goods, 42 per cent. WAS within the Empire itself, and 58 per oent. otfSy was outside the Empire. During the three years, 1900-1-2, the proportion of our manufactured goods which we sent within the Empire had increased to the extent of 7 per cent., and the proportion sent to the rest of the world had decreased to the extent of 7 per cent. And how far was the trade of the Empire capable of expanding? The population of Canada had this year received the addition of 50,000 people from the United States, and every increase of population in the Empire, if this policy were carried out, meant an increase in the volume, of trade open to tho people of this country. (Cheers.) He did not profess to say there wa3 no difficulty in connection with this ohange. There were great difficulties, and the main difficulty was that the produce received from our Colonies was mainly raw materials and foodstuffs. The latter were products it was not so easy to put taxa- tion upon, but, as regarded the raw material, the difficulty did not exi-it. If the change were made we might adopt the system which was adepted in Germany of giving a drawback to the manufacturers of the full amount of the duty. That was a question which the industrial classes of this country must decide for themselves. They must decide whether it would pay them better to pay a slight increase on their food if in ex- change they had a large volume of trade which would mean constant employment and better wages. (Cheers.) We had been fighting as a man with one hand tied behind his back. We could not old our own only by the most strenuous efforts and only by using to the full every advantage which was placed within our reach. He did not believe that the working classes would allow that handicap to continue much longer; he believed they would be of opinion that, to use the words of Mr. Chamber- lain, "if did not pay for the country to be the target at which the hostile tariffs of the world might with impunity be aimed." (Loud cheers.) CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT. Alderman Salvidge moved—"That this meet- ing of the Lancashire and Cheshire Conservative Workingmen's Federation expresses its approval of the action of his Majesty's Government in their Imperial and domestic policy, and assures Mr. Balfour's Administration of its unwavering alle- giance." He believed the repeal of the corn duties would be a mistake. The paltry two and a half millions might have been left, but still he I agreed with Mr. Balfour that the question of preference as to tariffs and the question of cur fiscal arrangements must not depend merely upon this corn duty. If the question was to be raised at all it was too serious and too large to be brought in and the principle established upon this one duty alone. He believed the workingmen of the United Kingdom would approve of the scheme, when fuily developed, that would- bind our Colonies still closer to the Mother Country, and would recognise the fairness and justice of the proposition that if any preference was to be given on behalf of this country it should not he given to the foreigner but to our Colonial brethren in all parts of the world. (Loud ap- plause.) In the bye-elections there had been some wobbling, but, thank goodness, there had been no wobbling in Liverpool. (Hear, hear, and applause.) They had recently had two bye- elections, and they had returned Mr. Austin Taylor—(applau-e^—and the present Lord Mayor of Liverpool—Mr. Rutherford—(applause)—by large majorities. He menti-rned these things to shew that Lancashire and Cheshire were sound in their support of the Government and true to the great nrinciples they had at heart. (Ap- plause.) There was one man who should feel proud at this moment, and that was their friend Mr. David Maclver, M.P., who made speeches in the House of Commons on the lines of Mr. Chamberlain's recent utterance so- long ago as when he represented Birkenhead. PATRIOTISM IN AUSTRALIA. Mr. W. T. Carter (member of the Victorian Parliament), in seconding, said if, as some feared, there would be a shrinkage in trade if Mr. Chamberlain's fiscal policy were adopted, it would be more than made up by the increased volume of trade with the Colonies. We had not o look at the volume of trade with the Colonies to-day; we had to look at the enormous possi- bilities in the very near future. No figures of to-day could give us any idea of what Canada will want in the next ten years, and what New Zealand will want and Australia will want. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Carter launched out in a rousing speech on the patriotism of the Australian-. He spoke of the early settlers, and facetiously observed that a distinction must be drawn between those who went out in those early days and those who were sent out. (Laugh- ter.) He himself was the son of one of the pioneers of the colonists, and he might explain that his father was one of those who went ont. (Laughter.) They sang our popular songs in Australia, including those patriotic songs about the British lion, and many a time there had echoed among tLe tall gum trees the refrain- "You can pat him on the crown, You can stroke him up and down; But beware how you tread on his tail." As one who took part in the agitation for a dis- criminating tariff in Viotoria, which was the first British settlement to adopt that policy, there was one strong argument that they felt deeply and keenly, and that was that they were imposing prohibitions upon products from the Mother Land. (Hear, hear.) It was not the Australian governors who offered the contingent to go to South Africa; it was the people. (Loud cheers.) There was a serious purpose in the offer of the Colonial-born men to help the Mother Country. Australians said, before the trouble with the Boers, We have played them cricket, and some- times we have been able to win—(hear, hear)- but if ever tho time must oome when the game must be played with balls that are not cf leather, we will stand on the English side and we will play the game together." (Loud cheers.) He asked them to credit his country with the foresight which enabled them to see that Colonial help to Great Britain, whether she needed it or not, was to make manifest to the whole world that whenever cause for quarrel arose the men of British blood and British breed all the world over were one. kloud oheers.) In an eloquent peroration, Mr. Carter said: We did not analyse the causes that led up to your quarrel with the Boers. We did not tell you that you were to lie down and take your licking lying down. We did not tell you you were not to go to war under any circumstances, as some among yourselves did. It was not a que-tion to us even whether you were right or whether you were wrong. There was a quarrel, and we were on your side. (Cheers.) That came from that which had been instilled into us by our British fathers-and that is pride of race." (Loud cheers.) Mr. Austin Taylor, M.P., in supporting, re- ferred to the importance of the Navy, which, he said, had been described as "the protecting genius of the commerce of the Empire." Refer- ence had been made, he continued, to some pos- sible mistakes made by the Government, but all the mistakes that had been made by this Govern- ment, if we rolled them into one, would not equal the huge, the colossal mistake which this country would make if it installed into their places the Opposition. (Cheers.) He did not know what the policy of the Opposition leaders would be. There was Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, and all he (the speaker) knew was that Mr. Campbell said one thing and Mr. Bannerman said another on the same day. (Laughter). There wa. Lord Rosebery, who said one thing one day and changed it to the opposite the next day. (Laughter.) They had this confidence in the present Government, that they did extend their vision over the remote parts of the Empire, while at the same time they concentrated their atten- tion upon the needs of the people of these islands. (Cheers.) The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. D. Maclver proposed a vote of thanks to tho Chairman and speakers. Paying a compli- ment to the Australian speaker, he said one could not help hoping that the time might come when tho Colonies would have eloquent representa- tives in the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) Mr. B. C. Roberts, in seconding, took the opportunity of thanking the Chairman and those who had addre-sed the meeting for having come among them to teach the polities that they had impressed upon them that night. (Hear, hear.) He hoped they would all benefit bv it. They all extremely regretted that the member for the city (Mr. Yerburgh) was not present through a sudden attack of ill-health. (Hear, hear.) Had Mr. Yerburgh been present, ho would have heartily joined in the vote. The Chairman, in acknowledging the vote on behalf of the speakers and himself, said the Federation, in coming to Chester, felt that they were coming to what had already been described that evening as a Tory stronghold. He hoped it would always continue a Tory stronghold. (Hear, hear.) He thanked Mr. Roberts for the personal welcome he (Mr. Roberts) and his friends had extended to the Federation that day.
[No title]
OULTON PARK FETE.—This popular Wliit-Monday attraction promises to provide a most enjoyable time for all visitors to Sir Philip Grey-Egerton's charming park A very full programme is advertised, and includes a polo match in which the competing teams will be the Cheshire Yeomanry and Cheshire County horse- jumping and athletic sports. The Earl of Chester's Imperial Yeomanry Band and the Winsford Volunteer Band will play a selection of airs and dance mrsic throughout the day. The conserva- r.Q crnrdens and grounds will be thrown open.
Advertising
— The Most Nutritious. EPPS'S Grateful-Comforting. COCOA Breakfast—Supper. j
WELSH INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION.
WELSH INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION. Following in the steps of the aotive societies which have done so much to revive the peasant handicrafts in Scotland and Ireland, was the Welsh Industries Association, which on Tuesday began, at Grosvenor House, London, an exhibition and sale that was continued until Wednesday night. The display was the best that the associa- tion has held. Lord Windsor undertook the cere- monial "opening." He referred to the great en- couragement given by the action of the associa- tion to the development of Welsh industries, the improvements of the textile fabrics of Wales, and the better distribution of products. The success that had attended the efforts of the promoters of the movement had largely increased the work of the committee and of the officers of the associa- tion, and he strongly pleaded for further support not only from the purchasers of industrial pro- ducts, but from subscribers and well-wishers to what was to all intents and purposes a great philanthropic movement. Tho principle charac- teristic of the exhibition was the considerable ad- vance made in the quality as well as the quantity of textile goods d.spla~yed by small but enterprising Welsh firms. From Flintshire came some lovely lacework and embroidered altar pieces from the Pantasaph Convent, and an exhibit of flannels and tweeds, especially useful for charitable distribu- tion. from Holywell. Carnarvonshire wa.s repre- sented by Miss Alice Douglas-Pennant, who ex- hibited some carvings in slate from Bangor and a beautiful collection of Welsh dolls from Carnar- von. The county proposes to have a larger ex- hibit at Bristol later on. On the Denbighshire stall, Messrs. Hughes and Son, of Ystrad Mills, shewed many fine specimens of weaving, especi- ally in hopsacks. Mrs. Cornwallis-West was presi- dent, and Miss Mainwaring, of Galltfaenau, secretary. Miss Mabel Hill having resigned the post of hon. secretary, which she filled with so much zeal, the duties of the office are now carried on by Mrs. Richard Helme. Countess Grosvenor, on Wednesday, performed the opening ceremony. There was a large attendance. The Countess expressed the pleasure which it afforded her to be present and to associate herself with so interesting and beneficial a movement as the furtherance of the sale of the products and industries of Wales. A vote of thanks was passed to her, also to the Duke of W estminster, on the motion of Lord Mostyn, seconded by Colonel Gee.
CHURCH MISSION AR Y SOCIETY.…
CHURCH MISSION AR Y SOCIETY. MEETING AT CHESTER. A meeting under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society was held on Friday at the Town Hall, %vhen a special address was given by Mr. Eugene Stock (lay secretary of the society). The Bishop of Chester presided over a good attend- ance, and was accompanied on the platform by the Rev. Canon Gore, the Rev. Canon S. Cooper Scott the Revs. F. Anderson, F. T. Stonex, E. C. Lowndes, F. Edwards, H. H. Wright, H. A. Arnold (Barrow), Mr. F. 8. Bishop. Mr. F. E. Roberts, &e. Mr. Stock, at the opening of an interesting and instructive address, said that many of the popular objections to missions to the heathen were at once removed if it were remembered that Christianity was based upon a fact, viz., that the Son of God once came into the world to save all mankind, and that all mankind should therefore be told this fact. This was the duty of the Christian Church. He then gave a number of personal reminiscences of his visits to different parts of the mission field, illustrating the success of the work that is being done. In a graphic account of the progress and development of the society's operations, he pointed out that between the years 1887 and 1894 they had doubled the number of.their missionary clergymen, laymen and women, with a total number of 619, all of whom had been paid for. During the succeeding eight years the number of those workers had been trebled and they had been all but paid for. That was to say that on the immense expenditure there was a comparatively more fragment of a deficiency on the past year. The staff of missionaries had doubled in India and Ceylon in the past fourteen years, in the Mohammedan lands in eight years, and in China in seven years, and trebled in Japan in the past ten years, West Africa in nine years, and East Africa and Uganda in eight years. The society had sent out over six hundred women, nearly four hundred of whom were on the roll to-day. The number of university graduates upon the C.M S. roll had in- creased from 71 to 227. The adults who had been converted to Christianity through the society's agency formerly averaged 2,000 in a year, while they now averaged 0,500 a year. In other words the missionaries of this society were every day baptizing in some part of the world 2(5 men or women. Mr. Stock laid particular stress on the indifferentism to Christianity on the part of the Japanese, especially among the educated classes. Canon Gore moved a vote of thanks to the speaker, and a resolution pledging all present to further the missionary spirit in Chester by all means in their power. Mr. Stock, he said, had told them that the great danger in Japan was indifferentism. Was it not possible that the same spirit was beg inning to exist at home? He was afraid that as education progressed to-day and occupied so many fields not directly connected with religion, people were in danger of becoming indifferent to religion. Mr. F. E. Roberts, in seconding the motion, pointed out that Chester was not without repre- sentation m the mission field, as a number of persons connected with the city were taking a prominent part in missionary work, two of whom were bishops in China and Japan respectively. A vote of thanks was also passed to the Bishop, who in reply said that while we could not be too anxious about the danger of indifferentism, we had much to be thankful for in the first hundred years' work of the C.M.S. Let them think of the condi- tion of indifferentism in which the Church existed at the time when Charles Simeon almost trembled at the idea of calling a meeting of the missionary society, and contrast it with Chester at its worst at the present day. (Laughter and hear. hear.) Mr. Stock remarked that a bishop of Chester seventy or eighty years ago in the old days of indifferentism prohibited his clergy from receiving missionary deputations. (Laughter). At the close of the meeting Mr. Bishop announced the receipt of a cheque for £ 50 for the society's funds.
CHARITY ORGANISATION SOCIETY.…
CHARITY ORGANISATION SOCIETY. The annual meeting of the Chester Society for Organising Charitable Relief was held at tho Town Hall on Friday, the Very Rev. the Dean of Chester presiding over a small attendance. In their annual report, the committee stated that in the year 1802 there had been 158 cases dealt with, as against 139 in 1901. There had been 52 cases dismissed, as against 54 in 1901; six of these had been dismissed as undeserving, as against 14 in 1901; 11 as ineligible, as against 12 in 1901; 19 had been referred to poor law, as against 20 in 1901j and 16 had been withdrawn, as against eight in 1901. The fund for giving permanent relief to the aged poor had done increased good work; there were now 33 pensioners on its list; five vacancies had occurred during the year, and nine fresh cases had been added. Four cases had been invest.gated for other societies, as against 10 in 1901 and 38 reports sent to private persons who wished for information, as against 56 in 1901. The amount of subscriptions and donations to the or- dinary fund—including a donation of JB25 from h.s Grace the Duke of Westminster-was £ 104 3s. 6d., as against i:155 16i. in 1901; to the permanent fund—including a donation of £ 75 from his Grace the Duke of cstminster—the amount subscribed was JE108 lis., as against jB88 Is. in 1901. The special piimanent fund received E230 16s., as against £ 222 16s. 2d. in 1901. The committee were glad to report that from the special appeal fund two really good cases had been permanently helped; to One £ 10 19s. lOd. was granted, and to the other £ 6 5s. towards maintenance in the Dela- nierc Sanatorium.—The financial statement, which was read by the Dean, shewed that the ordinary- receipts amounted to £ 338 18s. lid., and after the payment of working expenses and donat.ons, there remained a balance of £ 245 16s. 2d. to tarry on the work during the ensuing year. The fund for the permanent relief of the aged and deserving poor commenced with a balance of JB78 12s. Id., and ended with one of E17 4s. lid. Subscriptions and donations amounted to E339 7s. Id. In moving the adoption of the report and state- ment of accounts, the Chairman expressed his re- gret that Colonel Wilford LLoyd was not able to be present. Speaking of the various kinds of poverty, lie said there was the poverty caused by ill-doing, and in dealing with charity we must not entirely close our hearts and satisfy our con- sciences by doing nothing for those who suffered poverty from that cause, saying "They richly de- serve the poverty in which they are." Greater caution was required in those cases, and still more d d we need to discriminate. A great deal of the poverty which came before the society was from sheer idleness. Nobody in this country could be allowed to starve, but with th<J6.{,> who were poor because they disliked work and preferred begging, we had to. discriminate and take care we were not increasing the mischief bv giving indiscriminate charity, which fostered idleness and crime. No private charity, and no charity administered by a committee, and no poor law relief ought in any way to lessen the obligation lying upon everybody to exercise thrift, and while we welcomed the great difference in the way in which poor law relief was now administered to what it used to be, we should take care", and guardians should take care, that the larger grants made in outdoor relief should be so investigated and the relief to adminis- tered as not to diminish the obligation for thrift. We had certainly come to the turning point in the administration of poor law and charity. Unfortu nately there was a great strife. between labour and capital, a most unfortunate and as disastrous a warfare as could bo conceived. Referring to the administration of doles, he said the system often attracted people to certain parishes or o tics where they thought they might get a larger amount than at other places. In conclusion, he said the com- mittee wished to acknowledge the services Mr. Birch had rendered them. Canon Cooper Scott seconded the resolut"on, which was agreed to On the motion of the Rev. G. A. Robins, seconded by the Rov. C. A. Griffen. the committee were re-eleoted. The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to the hon. auditor, Mr. John Davies, and the Mayor for the use of the room.
WIRRAL GUARDIANS.
WIRRAL GUARDIANS. The fortnightly meeting of this Board was hold on Wednesday at Clatterbridge Workhouse, Mr. C. Morris presiding over a large attendance. RELIEVING OFFICER'S WORK. From the minutes of tho Finance Committee's meeting held on Tuesday, it appeared that Mr. Hignett, the relieving officer, had written calling; attention to the fact that for the last eleven; years his wife had assisted him very materially, in his work without receiving any money. It waa proposed by a member of the committee that a sum of JB25 yearly should be allowed Mr. Hignett in order that he might obtain a clerk to perforra the work which had been done by his wife. No one seconded the proposition, and it waa eventually resolved that the letter should not be entertained; and that if the matter was at any, time considered attention would be given to the- desirability of dividing the district. The minutes were confirmed. WORKHOUSE SEWERAGE SCHEME. Mr. McLeavy, in moving the adoption of the proceedings of the General Purposes Committee, reported that the Local Government Board had refused to sanction the workhouse sewerage scheme. Mr. Delamore said he did not approve of the! hurried manner in which the committee had carried out their scheme, and that their work ought to have been carried out in a different way. He thought there was land in the imme- diate neighbourhood of the Workhouse which could be utilised for the treatment of sewage a.t a much lower cost than that of the scheme recom- mended. Mr. G. J. Townsend denied that the com- mittee had done their work in a hurried maaaiicr and said the scheme they recommended was in their opinion the cheapest and simplest, and that they recommended it with the strong desire to save as much money as possible. He had no hesitation in saying that there would ha-e b, eo; no occasion to apply to the Looal Govui-rnenfc Board if they had been allowed to proceed with a scheme which would not have cost the rate- payers a farthing in the pound. The minutes were adopted. ARE DELEGATES NECESSARY? Considerable discussion arose out of a proposi- tion to appoint delegates to attend the coii- ferenca of the Poor Law Union Association in London. Messrs. G. J. Townsend W. W. Christian and Humphrey Price were proposed as delegates.—Mr. W. Knowles moved as an amendment that no delegates be appointed, as he thought it was a waste of money to send them to conferences.—Mr. Ledsom seconded, and ex- pressed the opinion that the Guardians would obtain much more enlightenment from a perusal of the printed proceedings at these conferences than from the verbal accounts which were given to them by their delegates. He had seen a delegate making a copy from the printed pro- ceedings of conference;, and reading it to the Guardians as coming from himself. (Laughter.) —Mr. McLeavy and the Chairman expressed themselves in favour of appointing delegates, and the original motion was carried.—On the motion of Mr. Sutton, it was decided to appoint only one delegate, instead of two as heretofore. and a vote by ballot resulted in the election of Mr. Townsend.
THE TYPHOID OUTBREAK.
THE TYPHOID OUTBREAK. BLANKETS TRACED TO CHESTER. PRECAUTIONS AT THE ASYLUM. With reference to the infected Army blankets from South Africa which caused the outbreak of typhoid fever in the reformatory ship Cornwall, it is surprising to find that a batch of fifty blankets belonging to the same lot have been traced to the County Asylum at Upton. It is somewhat difficult to ascertain information, but we understand that the Asylum authorities obtained a batch of these blankets, and two had actually been distributed among the patients when tiie management received notice irom the Medical Officer of Health of the Port of London and the contractor who had supplied them, notifying that the blankets were suspected of being infected with typhoid germs. The Asylum authorities at once nad the blankets that had been issued withdrawn, and these, together with the remainder of the batcn, have been put into the isolation hospital attached to the Asylum and there dealt with. Happily there have been no ill effects. Apart from the unfortunate cir- cumstances of these particular blankets, it is a. matter of astonishment that the Asylum authori- ties should deem it advisable to purchase second- hand blankets for use at the institution. The story of the infected blankets is. says the "Daily Mail," a simple one, and goes to shew that while the blankets were imported into this country in the ordinary way of business, their sale. in Capetown was due to some official action contrary to regulations, for which the War Office is at present unable to account. The blankets were purchased in the ordinary way by the authorities of the Cornwall from a respectable City firm. This firm had in turn- purcha-ed the blankets from another City firm, old-established and of high repute. The second firm had been approached at the be- ginning of the year by a London agent, who quoted large quantities of blankets at low prices. Samples were sent, and the purchasing firm, noticing the uncancelled Government mark, "W. D. signifying "War Department," on blankets which had not been cut into quarters iii, acoordance with the regulations, asked for ex- planations. The agent, a member of an old- established firm of Government contractors, who was in no way connected with the ownership of the blankets, referred the matter to the man who had imported them from South Africa. A cable- gram was sent to the Cape, and elicited a reply to the effect that the sale of the blankets, though they had not been cut into quarters, was quite, regular, and that proper guarantees wculd follow: by mail. This satisfied the purchasing firm in the City, who thereupon ordered about 20,000 of the blankets. Large consignments were dlily received and distributed broadcast to their regular customers, mostly drapers, throughout the country and the metropolis. There remains no doubt whatever that this was the process by which the infected blankets reached the re- formatory ship from South Africa. But while this clears up the story of the blankets from the time of their departure from Capetown, it remains to be disclosed how the blanket- came to bl) sold there without being torn into quarters- They were collected in Capetown, the War Office states, from various up-oountry depots and hos- pit-als, and the sale must have been duly authorised by some official. The fact, however, that they were sold at all is a double breach of the regulations, for, in addition to the ordinary rules, the Secretary of State issued a specific an- nouncement to the authorities in South Africa that all war bedding that might in any vvav carry infection was to be destroyed on the soot. The reason which actuated the person or per<-on9 authorising the sale is not known, But it is suggested on some hands that there was a. wish to save the country's money, ,as the destruction of the blankets would represent a loss of, say. tl.500 at the minimum. The 'War Office ha9 cabled to the Cape for a full explanation, and ivil) deal with the matter summarily. Inquiries shew that the blankets have been traced to a large number of towns throughout1 the country. The "Daily Express" says: "It is evident that gross and abominable blundering must have been committed by somebody in South Africa whom it should not be impossible to discover nj bring to account." BLANKETS ON THE CLIO. Acting on instructions from Dr. Fraser (the medical officer of health), Mr. Worrall the sanitary inspector of Bangor, has during the lasf two days been searching Bangor for army or navy blankets. Only one tradesman appears to have lia« a consignment of twelve, and these lie at once delivered up for disinfection, explaining that he !i,-id received them a couple of months ago from a promi- nent London firm with whom lie dealt in the ordinary way of business. He had sold a pan- he said, but Mr. Worrall has only been able to trace » single blanket, and that was sold through ø. travelling hawker to a person near Llangefni. 011 .board the Clio Mr Worrall found 150 blankets, ou# of which four had teen given to boys leaving ship during the last two months, as part of thelt kits. Captain Langdon is now endeavouring to trace and recover them. AN INQUIRY ORDERED. In the House of Commons on Monday Brodriek, in reply to questions regarding the sale of infected Army blankets, said that two years ago be had issued special orders to South Africa neither t'o sell nor send home any goods which might contain infection. He had called upon the general officet commanding to investigate and report fully on matter and take steps to have any blankets still remaining in South Africa destroyed-
A MAIiTYR TO SCIATICA. +
A MAIiTYR TO SCIATICA. + I had been a martyr to Sciatica." So v,,ritcl; Mrs. E. K. Stokes, of Hulver-street, ne- Wrentham. Suffolk, on April 7th. She tried pital treatment, but became weaker, had dreadt pain, had to draw herself upstairs by the r and could not cairv her own baby about. great was her pain that the limbs seemed drtn quite out of place. e In this state Mrs. Stokes remained until itet began to take Dodd's K dney Pills, and a JP trying them three days began "to feel a short time she was completely cured.) ,,e. have wrought a miracle in my case," b "I can now walk four miles with pleasure, whe a few weeks back I felt unable to get about house." Mrs. Stokes's euro was due entirely to Vo^e Kidney Pills, a remedy which never fails to r j Sciatica, Rhoumatism, Lumbago and all «lS -ve | due to the kidneys. Tho most hopeless ca-s^6 | way to Dodd's Kidney P lis. | J