BRITISH POLITICS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XX, Issue 937, 3 February 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

Press Assn — By telegraph— Copyright. LONDON, Yesterday. Lord Twoedmouth, replying to the Parliamentary Committee of tho Trade Union Congress, declined to abolish tho premium or bonus system in Government dockyards. Lord Rosebery's motion for a select committee to consider suggestions made from time to time to increase the efficiency of the House of Lords was carried. Tho committee is the same as that chosen last year, except that Lord Curzon replaces Lord Clonbrook. Mr Ramsay McDonald's amendment to the Address-in-Reply, regretting the absence from tho King's Speech of a promise to deal legislative^' with the unemployed question, was negatived by 195 to 146. The minority included all the Laborites. tho Nationalists, and a few Unionists and Liberals. Many Liberals abstained from voting. Several newspapers state that many Unionists voted with the minority. Mr Jphn Burns said that some of _■ the; aims;\of Socialism wore Utopian, IricideiitaUy vie mentioned that Mr Asquitti's Old Age Pension Bill would. provide for a, million people. Mr Mac&qnald, interviewed on the -result of the division, said it would \ encourage the Labor party to proceed with their -Unemployed -.8i11.-' The minority ija "favor of Mr MacDonald's 1 amendments comprised 40 Laborites, 25 Liberals, 56 Nationalists and Socialists, and 24 'Unionists. Dr Rutherford moved that the present .--condition of India demanded the Government's serious attention. He said their proposals were inadequate to allay discontent, and comprehensive reforms were required. Mr Morley ridiculed such confident judgment after six weeks' tour of India, and said the suggested reforms were fallacious. India's condition showed an enormous and extraordin- .. ary improvement since the Government entered office.

The amendment was withdrawn. The newspapers commend Mr Hurley's broad, sympathetic policy.