National Union Gleanings PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 Excerpt: ...the greatest number of supporters was relief to agrioulture. (Cheers.) It dces not surprise me, because after all agriculture is the greatest industry in this country--(hear, hear)--and if agriculture is depressed, no other industry can expect to be permanently prosperous. (Hear, hear.) But as regards this promise, at any rate, we have amply fulfilled it. One of the first acts of the Government was to bring in an Agricultural Rating Bill, which baa ever since been made a charge against us by the very same opponents who accused us of breaking our promises. (Cheers.) We have also brought in a number of minor Bills dealing with various grievances. At any rate, in regard to the agricultural classes, we have a clear bill. Then the next thing was assistance for old-age destitution--(cheers)--about which I wish to say a word diroctly. Then the inorease of the Army and Navy, com pensation for accidents to workmen--(cheers)--assistance to artizans to acquire their own dwellings, relief to voluntary schools--(cheers)--local government for Ireland--(oheers)--the creation of courts of conciliation, the exclusion of prison-made goods, the discouragement of the immigration of destitute aliens, and the amendment of the Irish land laws--I challenge anyone to name any other subject which received any considerable number of promises of support in the course of the last general election--and out of that number of subjects. in three working Sessions, which is about half, I suppose, of the term we may expeotto live as a Government--(laughter)--we have already dealt with eight out of eleven--fcheers)--and besides we have also introduced a number of minor Bills, such as the Prisons Bill, the Vaccination Bill, the Criminal Evidence Bill, the amendment c f the Factory Acts, and a B...