IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2573, 6 August 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE BUDGET PROPOSALS. CONDEMNED BY THE DUIvE OF PORTLAND. United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, August 4. The Duke of Portland, addressing his tenants at Welbeck, said £IOOO was spent weekly in .wages on the estate. This would necessarily be largely diminished if the Budget became law, thus disorganising the local labor market. Taxation upon capital was fundamentally unsound finance, and would bring ruin to agriculturalists. The chairman of Watney’s Brewery Coy., at a meeting, stated that the increased license duties would cause the company to pay £IOO,OOO additional taxation.

GOVERNMENT STATE INSURANCE. DETRIMENTAL TO FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. Oddfellows as a body resolved that any Government State insurance would be detrimental to friendly societies. The speakers stated that the scheme would only benefit wastrels. The Compensation Act caused such, malingering that sickness claims doubled. The Hearts of Oak, Rechabites, and Oddfellows resolved to approach the Government to protest against benefits paid to their members being taken account of when old age pensions weie determined.

LABOR EXCHANGES BILL. READ A SECOND TIME IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. The Labor Exchanges Bill was read a second time in the House of Lords. UNIONIST ~FiRIETRADER’S defection. JOINS THE LIBERAL PARTY, (Received August 5, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, August 5. Mr. Alexander Cross, M.P. for Camlachie Division of Glasgow, and a Free Trade Unionist, has joined the Liberals owing to the pressure of tariff reformers.