BRITISH POLITICS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14580, 5 December 1912, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS.

CHEAP WEEK-END CABLES

United Press Association—By Electric Teieg: aph—Copyright. LONDON. December 3. In the House of Commons, Mr H. L. Samuel, Postmaster-General, in reply to Mr W. Redmond, said he hoped to be ablo at an early date to announce cheap week-end cable letters to Australia. (Received December 4th, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, i>ecember 4. Mr Samuel, in reply to Mr Harry Lawson, said tho terminal charges at Australia prevented a larger reduction in cablo rates.

THE HOME RULE BILL.

LONDON, December 3. Good progress continues to bo mado with the Homo Rulo Bill. Clause 26 has been passed. Mr J. F. Hope's amendment, providing for a revision of tho financial relations if the Irish revenue exceeds tho expenditure in one year, was negatived. Mr H. L. Samuel gavo notice of an amendment to enable tho Irish Government to uso any .surplus to reduce a deficit and secure earlier revision. Mr Balfour elicited tho information that if Britain imposed extra taxation for Imperial purposes Ireland would bear her share. (Received December 4th, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 4. There was a listless debate on clausos 27 and 28. Tho former was briefly discussed. Tho latter was not discussed "but guillotined and passed. Sir Edward Carson's amendment to clauso 27, to sccuro of Judges being appointed by tho King, was uegatived. Sir Rufus Isaacs said that tho Government wa-t prepared to amend clause 29 to enablo tho Exchequer Board, in addition to tho Lord-Lieutenant and tho Secretary of State, to obtain a Privy Council decision whether any Irish legislation was ultra vires.

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY

(Received December 4th, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 4.

Mr Balfour, addressing tho London members of tho Primrose League, said that tho Government's policy was more harmful to tho Houso of Commons than to the Crown or tho Houso 6f Lords. After buying the Irish and Welsh votes, tho Government now dosigned a new franchiso to mitigate tho country's vordict.

TH_> WHITECHAPEL SEAT.

(Received December 4th, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 4.

Mr Stuart Samuel, giving evidence beforo tho Select Committee, said that tho silver purchase was entirely conducted by his partner. Witness, personally, was not cognisant of tho transaction. A ring existed in India to buy up silver, and his firm was tho only one not connected with it, therefore tho India Office employed it to make secret •DurchaseS.

TRADE UNION BILL,

(Received December 4th, 11.30 p.m,_» LONDON, December 4. The Committee on tho Trade Union Bill refused, although Sir Rufus Isaacs accepted, an amendment allowing trade unions to pay their Commissioners (? Commoners).

Sir Rufus Isaacß said that Trade unions ought to be allowed to manage their own affairß.

The Conservative members supported the amondment on the ground that it would mako it easy to reverse tho Payment to Members Bill.

The Board of Trade's report says that 961,980 men wore involved in strikes in 1911, a record.

Tho Board of Trado Labour Department's report says that 133 profit-shar-ing schemes, involving 106 000 workers, havo survived out of 300 started since Tho profits in 1911 represented an addition of 5J per cent, to wages.