CABLE NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2449, 13 March 1909, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

IMPERIAL POLITICS DISSENSION AMONG UNIONISTS. A PROPOSED SOCIALIST CONFERENCE. United Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, March 11. The executive of the East Herts Unionist Association, withdrew' its confidence in Mr. A. It. Smith, the sitting member, on the fiscal question. Lord Salisbury, in a letter dissenting from the decision, resigned the presidency of the Association, and described Mr. Smith as one of the best representatives in the country, adding that the fiscal question was only part, and not the most important part, of the Unionist policy. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, on behalf of the Labor party, has issued a proposal for an All-Britisli Labor Socialist Conference,, concurrently with the Colonial Conference expected to be held in 1910. A FAIR WAGES CLAUSE. TO BE INSERTED IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS. LONDON, March 11. In the House of Commons, a discussion arose on the Postal Estimates. Mr A. IL. Hodges moved the insertion of a stricter fair wages clause in Government contracts. This led to Mr. Buxton making the desired amendment, which the House agreed to, the Laborites accepting it as satisfactory. During the debate on Mr. Hodges’ motion the Unionists and some Radical freetraders objected to the endeavor to compel official recognition of local trade union rates instead of the present fair wages clause, because it- was opposed to the principle. : of freetrade and the Government’s system' of placing contracts abroad, where lower wages were no disability.