IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, 1 October 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

CABLE NEWS.

the Irish land bill. \ United Press Association—Coptrigiit. LONDON, Sept. 29. The debate on the second reading of Mr. Birrell’s Bill has begun in the House of Lords. The Earl of Grewe explained that the compulsory purchase proposals were intended to be of limited application. Lord Dunraven moved the rejection of the Bill, on the ground that the financial basis would be disastrous to Ireland.

Lord Lansdowne severely criticised the Bill, but offered to join with the Government in making it a reasonable measure by substantial amendments in committee. He denied that there was need for compulsion, adding that the Commissioners had already more land than they could handle or pay for.

THE FINANCE BILL. The House of Commons adopted Mr. Lloyd-George’s new clause, providing for a shilling in the pound on the rental value of all rights to work minerals and of all mineral way leases,.

The Opposition emphasised that minerals were frequently worked by owners would pay a tax on what they would have been receiving as royalty in case someone else had been getting the minerals. Such men would be at a disadvantage compared with their rivals who lease minerals.

In response to appeals on behalf of the building trades, Mr. Lloyd-George will exempt Common clay, gravel, chalk, and said. Air. Bonar Law contended that the claim oil behalf of coal and other raw material was equally just and urgent. THE LORDS ON THE IRISH LAND BILL.

(Received September 30, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, Sept, 30.

Mr. Birrell’s Irish Land Bill was read a second time in the House of Lords, without a division, the amendment being withdrawn. Lord Curzon urged careful examination of the Bill in the interests of British taxpayers, upon whom an enormous financial responsibility i s thrown. Lord Curzon said that the Bill meant an agrarian revolution as important as any revolution that might be expected in the Budget. Tli underlying principles were socialistic, and could not be confined to Ireland. Events had not detracted from the value of Mr. George Wyndham’s Act, which was an almost solitary instance of legislation by agreement. He was a great believer in round-the-table conferences, which might be usefully applied to such questions as education, the liquor traffic, the extension of the suffrage, and redistribution. The Government had not maintained A?ontinuity, owing to the exigencies of the Irish party. It was not in the interest of the latter to see the land question settled amicably and easily. The vast system of expropriation introduced by Mr. Birrell’s Bill foreshadowed the scattering of evicted landlords broadcast over Ireland. Mr. Wyndbam’s Act could be properly worked if the requisite gum was provided. He hoped that the House would alter the present Bill with no trembling hand. Lord Mac Donnell considered that the introduction of compulsion would terminate amicable dealings. If sent to committee the Bill could make a useful suplement to Mr. Wyndham’s Act. After other speeches, the Earl of Crewe remarked that to increase or diminish or vary a charge on the publis funds had not hitherto been considered to fall within the province of the House of Lords. Lord Loreburn said that the Government was willing to define in the Bill a limited exercise of compulsion.

A DEFENCE OE THE BUDGET. (Received September 30, 11 p.m.) Sir John Gorst, speaking at Corsham, defended the Budget and added that word had gone forth from the real leader of the Tory party, and the. House of Lords would reject the Budget. The party’s nominal leaders would be unable to restrain them.