IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2679, 8 December 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE COUNTRY'S FINANCE

.United Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Dec. 6

The “Daily News” asserted that despite the official arrangements tobacco and spirits are being cleared without payment of the increased duty, though the tea merchants generally are abiding by the Association’s decision, some arranging for a wholesale clearance of duty free tea. The Treasury has given notice that it is prepared to accept either old or new death duties on the understanding that the rate will be rectified after the election. The Chairman of, the Board of Cus-toms-denies that there is any ,chaos'in the hulk clearances owing to tho higher rates imposed by the Budget. He adds: The tea trade has decided to continue as if nothing had happened. The amount obtained for the antiSocialistic- Union fund totals 190,000 shillings. ;

THE PEERS’ “LOYALTY.”

LONDON, Dec. 6

Lord Lyveden, President of the British Committee for the Study of Foreign Municipal Affairs, speaking at Boston, said tho peers prided themselves on their loyalty, yet they took out •of the King’s hands the right to dissolve Parliament. They thus played the part of rebels against the Crown and Constitution. LABOR CANDIDATES. Messrs Burt and Fenwick are to he allowed to stand as Parliamentary candidates without signing the Labor partypledge. [At first.it was insisted that these able leaders of the working men must sign the Labor party’s pledge, which .they refused to :do.] ;THE LIBERALS’ INTENTION—A WRITTEN CONSTITUTION. (.(Received December 7, 10.10 p.rn.) LONDON, Dec. 7. 'Colonel Seely, Under-Secretary for ■the (Colonies, speaking at Liverpool, said!that if the -Liberals are returned to -power, they will make financial chaos impossible in the future by establishing the constitution firmly and in -,writing. : WINSTON CHURCHILL ON THE LORDS. Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking, at Southport, said lie thought it right, early in the fight, to differentiate between the hereditary monarchy and hereditary Peers. The sovereign reigned, hut did not govern. His power "was exercised on the advice of 'hi s Ministers. The monarch had no interests, divergent from those of the people. Mr. Churchill laid stress on the fact of the Transvaal and Orangia having been given great constitutions by letters patent under the Crown without submitting them to the Lords. Had they been so submitted they would have been mutilated and mangled finder the influence of such an evil counsellor as Lord Milner. The -whole movement of the world was against the ‘Lords’ greedy intrusion into -legislation,::, He asked, “Why should 600 -titled persons govern us, . and their children govern ours forever?” He -said that if the unreformed partisan House of Lords was continued, then the reign of ,the two great parties was closed for ever, and parties would be grouped on violent lines, when brute force and. class hatred instead of forbearance and public spirit uould. become the characteristics of British political life! A CORRECTIONdeceived December 7, 11,55 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 7. Mr. Askwith, Assistant Secretary of the Board of Trade represented Mr. Winston Churchill at the West Scotland Steel Institute, not Mr. Asquith. [A London cable received on Monday ni-ht stated that Mr. Asquith, representing Mr. Winston Churchill, speaking at the West Scotland Iron and Steel Institute, said as one who had access to the statistics- of the world, he had every, reason to hope that the period of depression would rapid 5 pass away. : He believed that there would be a marvellous improvement m trade during 1910. The question of employment would bulk largely m the