IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2610, 18 September 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH LAND BILL

United I’uicsa Arsooiation—Copyright. LONDON, Sept. 16.

In the debate on the recommitted Land Bill, Mr Birrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, in the clause forbidding advances in respect of the purchase of a holding if the tenancy is created after Ist January, 1908, moved to substitute 16th September, 1909. Nationalists threatened to abandon the Bill if Mr Bin-ell persisted in his amendment. Mr Birrell explained that his amendment was in accordance with a promise to Mr Long (ex-Chief Secretary for Ireland, and one of the leaders of the Opposition). He (Mr Birrell) was under the impression that Mr Long’s suggestion would affect only a few cases. He had made the promise too hastily. At any rate if a large amount of business had been going on in bogus tenancies he was ready to consider the position. Finally he asked leave to withdraw the amendment. Mr Wyndham (ex-Chief Secretary for Ireland) asked if there were likely to he many new tenancies created in Ireland in 18 montlis. Nationalists’ cries, “Yes.” Mr Wyndham:. It is all a delusion, and the Chief Secretary took fright at a false fire. Mr Burns: How many do you think there are? Mr Wyndham: The Chief Secretary should ascertain the facts before -putting down the amendment. Mr C. M. Campbell, commenting on Mr Birrell’s surrender, predicted that Mr Birrell could never touch lower deptlxs of humiliation. The amendment was negatived by 197 to 10. DISTRESS AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

(Received September 17, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept, 17.

Tbe Local Government Board statistics of distress and work in England and Wales; for tbe last financial year shdw that relief was given to 31 .persons in every 1000 of population, and that the unemployed represented 11.7 per 1000 of the population. The Trade Boards Bill has passed the report stage in the House of liOrds.

The report stage of the Irish Land Bill has been concluded in the House of Commons.

A UNIONIST PRONOUNCEMENT

Earl Percy (Conservative M.P. for South Kensington), in a speech at Leeds, said; that when the Unionists returned to power they would lighten the burden on agriculture by means of an organised system of co-operation to counteract the unfair advantage foreigners now enjoyed, and would arrange a scheme of lending State monies at low interest for the acquisition of small holdings. THE HOUSING AND TOWNPLANNING BILL. The Earl of Camperdown has given notice of an amendment to the Housing and Town-planning Bill to compel local authorities to see, as far as possible, that the dwelling accommodation provided under the Bill l is occupied exclusively by people belonging to the working classes. Heretofore manyworkers in large cities have been unable to obtain the accommodation provided under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, because it has been secured by business men. THE DEVELOPMENT BILL . (Received September IJ, 10.50 p.m.) i*Tn committee on tbe Development -Bill, Mr. Lloyd-George accepted Lord Robert Cecil’s amendment substituting for an advisory committee a permanent commission independent of the executive. Its recommendation to the Treasury will be final if it decides to reject any of the proposed 'grants, but not if they are favored. Lord Robert Cecil’s object was to guard against the dangers of corruption.