Mr. Asquith, addressing on Friday week in Manchester a meeting
in connexion with the annual meeting of the National Liberal Federation, outlined his policy as "an unrepentant fellow-Liberal." He deprecated a General Election in war time, as a distraction of interest, a dissipation of energy, and even a solvent of national unity. The task of the Irish Convention had been "entangled with gratuitous difficulties " ; he hoped that Ireland would make good her military quota, and obtain self-government before Britain enters the Council Chamber of Peace. Liberalism was charged to find work, training, and adequate pensions for ex-soldiers, according to their disabilities, and to restore full individual liberty at the earliest moment. The war had justified Free Trade ; an economic boycott had its uses, but it should not be used to continue guerrilla operations after the war. Health, housing, and education were three great tasks of 'reconstruction, with the lightening of the dead-weight of war debt by more efficient production and the adjustment of taxation to ability to bear it. Liberal aims must include a minimum wage, shorter hours, especially in arduous industries, regular holidays, superannuation, and the prevention of unemployment, with adequate facilities for home life and leisure.
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