THE WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 31, 5 February 1910, Page 8

THE WEEK.

nSEPERIAL.

The British elections are now practi cally over, there being only three morr returns to come. The Liberals have a lead of four, the figures being: Liberals 270, Unionists 272, Nationalists 81, Labour 38. Considerable speculation is going on at Home as to the probable course of affairs, and some of the Liberals' friends go so far as to advise them not to remain in office if some reform of the Lords be not promised. The bearing the Labour party will have on the balance of parties is bringing them into considerable prominence. Changes in the Cabinet are pretty sure to be announced. It is understood that Mr] A. Birrell, at present Chief Secretary for Ireland, will be appointed Home Secretary in succession to Mr. Herbert Gladstone, who has been appointed Governor-General in South Africa. Mr. Winston Churchill will become Chief Secretary for Ireland, and his present position as President of-ths Board of Trade will be filled by Mr. John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, who will in turn be succeeded by Mr. Herbert Samuel, now Parliamentary Secretary to the Home Office. The "Daily Telegraph," in discussing the probable Cabinet changes, considers that there is a likelihood of Mr. Haldane, at present Secretary of State for War, taking the position of First Lord of the Admiralty, which is at present held by Mr. McKenna. The premises of Messrs. Morris and Sons, tobacco manufacturers, in Highstreet, Whitechapel. London, were destroyed by fire. The flames spread, and a number of adjoining houses were also destroyed. Seventy-five engines were engaged in quelling the conflagration. The damage to property runs into £100,000, and 400 workpeople are thrown out of employment. There has been a recrudescence of the trouble in the British coal industry. The South Wales masters are claiming damages from tlie men for their refusal to work the extra 60 hours under the award, aggregating £300.000. The colliers are retaliating by claiming for the payment of short coal for which the existing agreement does not enforce payment. Northumberland men continue to fiercely oppose the three shifts, and it is expected that the Northumberland ballot next week will order a strike. The splendid new Roman Catholic Cathedral at Westminster is to be consecrated in June. The cost of the structure has now been defrayed. By an accident which happened to the London-Brighton express, seven passengers were killed instantly and 20 were injured. A coupling broke when the train was crossing the pornts at Stoats' Nest, and a coach was thrown across the platform at Croydon, after running for some distance.