The North Cumberland Reformer. — 1895-02-02 (Carlisle, Cumbria, England)

DRUMBURGH. —On Friday night a crowded meeting under the auspices of the Drumburgh Women's Liberal Association was held in the Schoolroom. The chair was occupied by Mr J. C. Grainger, and addresses were given by Mr Allison, M.P., Miss Palmer, Carlisle, and others. In the course of his speech, Mr ALstsoss ridiculed the Tory predilection for finding mares' nests. and stating that the Liberals were all discontented and in. open revolt. Why should they be so? They had a Government steadily engaged in carrying out the policy which the Liberal party had advocated for years, and they would certainly be the idiots their opponents would like to believe they were if they did not support the Government by every means in their power. It was in these practical reforms that the Liberal Unionists left them. Home Rule was only the pretence; and the proof of that was that now when the Liberal Unionists were declaring that Home Rule was dead, Sir Henry James said that the time had come to tear down the thin partition between the Liberal Unionists and the Tories. The Liberal Unionists were a dwindling party, and they intended to evade their disappearance by amalgamating with the Tory party; they were going to commit suicide to save themselves from slaughter. (Laughter.) Coming to the Budget, he said if the Government had done nothing but pass the Budget of 1894, they had fully justified the efforts made in 1892 to return them to power. By raising the limit of total exemption to £l6O, and of partial exemption to £5OO, and by fixing the amount on which a tenant farmer would have to pay at one-third instead of one-half of his rental as heretofore, a sensible relief had been given to this body of men. By making land and settled property pay at the same rate as other property, which was represented as an attack on landed property, Sir W. Harcourt had done simple justice. In the case of an owner who inherited a settled estate, he only paid on his life interest, while each tenant farmer on the estate must pay on every penny of the value of his property. Before last year the tenants had to pay more in order that the landlord might pay less. Now that was reversed. Sir W. Harcourt had also granted a boon to the landed interest, ef which little had been heard, by allowing a deduction of 121 per cent. on land and houses, and 16 per cent, on houses alone off the gross rental for the purpose of income tax assessment, instead of levying it on the gross rental as heretofore. This was a great advantage to the living tenant, which might fairly be set against the additional amount paid by his successor in the form of death duties. In conclusion, he said Lord Rosebery had fully justified the choice the Liberal party had made. Mr Gladstone had left them what he called a great Upas tree, the House of Lords, beneath whose shade their best measures were stifled. Before that tree was dealt with they should very likely hear one or two blows from Mr Gladstone's resounding axe. (Cheers.) That was the plain issue before them, it was plain straightforward work for plain straightforward men, and he had no hesitation in recommending it to the constituency in the interests of the country at large. Miss PALMER also addressed the meeting, and a vote of confidence in Mr Allison was unanimously passed on the motion of Mr JOIIN ROBINSON, seconded by Mr I. GRAINGER, Drumburgh. A tea and dance followed. MOOR Row.—A well attended meeting was held in the Moor Row Co-operative Hall on Thursday, the 24th, with the object of forming an Association for the district. Mr D. Ainsworth, M.P., presided, and in his opening remarks declared that the Government would stick together, and pass all their measures regardless of the action of the Lords. A vote of confidence in the Government was carried unanimously amid acclamation. Miss EMBLETON then addressed the meeting; and pointed out that the duty of the Women's Liberal Associations was to support and work heartily for Liberalism. Women were equally interested with men in political questions. They ought to take an interest in local politics, and endeavour to get women elected on local boards, to attend politcal meetings; and in the wider field of politics, support the Liberal party in obtaining justice for Ireland and Wales, to giving the people power to lesson drinkshops, clear out slums, and provide better homes for the working classes. The appointment of more women as Factory inspectors, as School Inspectors, the creation of a public opinion against the sweating system, and lastly and most important, for women to secure for her the power and protection of the Parliamentary vote, were all items in their programme.—A vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, and to Miss Embleton and other speakers.—Mr D. Ainsworth was elected President of the new Association; Mrs Watson and Mrs Patterson, secretaries; Mrs Harrison, treasurer; and a strong executive committee was appointed. EG