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CONSERV AT IV E CONFERENCE,,…

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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. ♦——

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