IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2755, 9 March 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

A SOCIALIST AND THE HOUSE OF LORDS. United Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 7. Mr. Phil Snowden (a. Socialist orator), speaking at Cardiff, said the country was not ripe for the abolition of the House, of Lords. Any Liberal party attempting to make reconstruction a dominant election issue would be driven into the wilderness for another generation. Any reform of the House of Lords would make the second Chamber infinitely stronger against democratic progress. The Labor party wanted the Budget. VOTES AT THE ELECTION. LONDON. March 7. The votes polled at the recent general election totalled 6,667,810 out of a possible 7,706,049. DURATION OF PARLIAMENTS. (Received March. 8, 5 p.m.) LONDON, March 7. Mr. Asquith announced that his resolutions on the 29th would include proposals for shortening the duration of Parliaments. . , COLONEL SEELY ELECTED FOR ILKESTOINE. (Received March 8, 10.15 p.m) LONDON, March' 8. The Ilkestone election resulted:— Colonel Seeley (Liberal) ... 10,204 Wright (Unionist) ... 6872 THE BRITISH ARMY. (Received March 8, 11.30 p.m.) In the House of Commons, during the debate on the Army estimates, Mr. Haldane stated that the Government was organising a pro-nautical corps on the German pattern. The present deficiency of horses was 120,000. The Imperial General Staff scheme was being developed. General G. W. Nicholson was receiving weekly communication v in regard to the organisation. He hoped that Lord Kitchener’s visit to Australasia would bear practical fruit. Major-General Sir G. A. French was going on a similar mission to Canada.

ALMOST A GOVERN-—CAT DEFEAT Mr. Ramsay MacDonald proposed a motion urging that a fair wages clause be instituted throughout the Government service. •• s . Mr. C. E. Mallet admitted that the War Office sometimes paid below trade wages. The Unionists promised Mr. Mac Don. old support, and a defeat of the Government seemed imminent, but the Liberals talked out tlie motion. EXPENSIVE FINANCE. Replying to 3lr. Balcarres, Mr LloydGcorge stated that the Bank of England was deducting income tax from dividends with the Treasury’s, concurrence, hqt the deduction was not paid * into the exchequer. added that lie was taking the advice of the law officers whether the income tax-payers who paid believing the Government would carry the Budget before the 31st iNlaich were entitled to refunds. The “Daily Mail,” commenting, says it is evident the country is paying £2OO daily interest upon its own money which the banks are lending the Government. THE LORDS ON MR. ASQUITH’S FINANCE. (Received March 9, 12.20 a.m.) The House of Lords passed the South X African War Loan Redemption Bill. During the debate on the second reading "of a temporary borrowing Bill, Lord Lansdowne said the. Government had asked the Lords as a special favor to pass two Bills in a single sitting, yet would not stoop to ask for the •power which would render the present borrow, ing unnecessary. Lord Crewe described the Opposition’s offer to facilitate financial measures as an olive branch shot from a catapult. The two Houses were in a state of war. The Lords doubtless hoped to win hack ' the practice of splitting the Budget into different Bills, but the Commons were not going to

agree. Lord Cromer sakl the Government had debtors willing to pay the money, yet replied: “I prefer to borrow, and insist on not being paid.” The present deficit in income tax amounted to CD millions, whereon interest of £I2OO was daily.