"BENDING" THE LORDS.
ASQUITH'S CHOICE.
CURTAILING THEIR POWERS.
CONSTITUTION UNALTERED.
(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.)
(Received 8.5 a.m.)
LONDON, January 4.
The "Times," discussing the future of the House of Lords, says that Mr Asquith has definitely disclaimed ending, and the party has sufficiently indicated its objection to mending, which means altering and improving the composition. There remains bending, which seems to mean curtailing of the powers while leaving the composition alone. This alternative, which jurists consider the worst, is chosen by the Government.
DEFINITE STATEMENT WANTED
FROM BOTH PARTY LEADERS.
(Received 11.10 a.m.)
LONDON, January 4.
Sir William Anson repeats Lord Rosebery's request for information respecting the future of the House of Lords.
Several politicians and newspapers are urging Mr. Asquith and Mr. Balfour to give information as to their intentions regarding the Chamber. *
A TAX ON LEATHER.
WHAT IT MEANS TO LEICESTER
(Received 8.5 a.m.)
LONDON, January 4.
Lord Claud Hamilton, son of the Duke of Abercorn, stands as Conservative candidate for South Kensington. Mr. Churchill, in a letter, declared that the ten per cent duty on imported leather which the tariffites promised in order to win the Bormeondsey seat, meant an additional burden upon Leicester manufacturers of £200,000 a year, equivalent to about 3/ a week on the wages of the ordinary operative. While the industry would thus be greatly injured through a protective duty designed to raise the price of material, it stood to gain nothing from protection itself. Lord Rayleigh, speaking at Witham, favoured making foreigners contribute to the national expenditure. There might be some doubt regarding who would pay export and import duties, but there would be no dispute regarding who would receive them. He therefore strongly supported tariff reform.
A VITAL NECESSITY,
ASQUITH ON FREE TRADE.
LONDON, January 4.
The Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith), speaking last evening at Haddington, near Edinburgh, after paying a graceful tribute to the memory of the late Earl Percy, emphasised Mr. Balfour's silence with respect to Mr. Haldane'a scheme for the reconstruction of the army. Mr. Asquith predicted that if the Torips were returned they would follow en Mr. Haldane's lines.
Adverting to economic questions, he declared that free trade was more than a benefit; it was a vital necessity. He did not pretend that the Liberal policy would cure unemployment, but it would do much to mitigate it. Their policy was a constructive one. The Lords had rejected the Budget because it was a complete and effectual alternative to tariff reform, and by that action they had exceeded their well-settled constitutional functions.
BRITAIN'S DUMPING GROUND.
THE REST OF THE WORLD.
LONDON, January 4.
Mr. Arthur Chamberlain (chairman of the Kynoch Company, and brother of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain), in a letter, strongly defends the land clauses aud social features of the Budget aud free trade, declaring that the rest of the world is a dumping ground for British manufacturers.
Mr. Winston Churchill, in a letter to Mr. Hamar Greenwood (Liberal member for York), says that even if the Tories, as they anticipated, gained 100 seats, the balance of power would be in the hands of the Irish Nationalists. His view is that there should be a generous settlement with Ireland, and that the aim of statesmen should be the solidarity of the Empire.
ONLY THEMSELVES TO -BLAME
SUFFRAGETTES' LOST CHANCE.
(Received 8.25 a.m.)
LONDON, January 4.
Mr. John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, speaking at Battersea, stated that he favoured the adult suffrage, and declared that if it were not embodies in the present election platform the ladies themselves were blamable.
•i WORKERS' APATHY. /
(Received 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, January 4. Of 280 members of the Stafford branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers only 28 participated in a ballot taken on the question of a membership levy of a shilling a member for Parliamentary propaganda. Of these three were in favour and 25 against the proposal.
A NEW OFFICE.
(Received 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, January 4. Sir Henry Norman, M.P. for South Wolverhampton, and founder of "The World's Work," has been appointed Assistant-Postmaster-General, an office created under the Post Office Act passed last session.
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