THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 26, 31 January 1908, Page 6

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

After a lecess which has lasted just fivo months, the British Parliament is again in session, and some particulars of its now bill of faie were reported by cable yesterday. Considering the comparatively small amount of public attention which tho tomporance question has recently received, it is not a little surprising to find tho Licensing Bill on top. But both the first and tho second places on tho programme aro in accordance with the forecast published by the Observer on Sunday last. The Licensing Bill in Mr. Asquith's charge would como first, the Observer prophesied, and the Education Bill second. The choice of Mr. Asquith to pilot the Licensing Bill is probably as wise a one as could nave been made, and it will afford him an excellent opportunity ior tho display of ail tiie Parliamentary skill that he

possesses. No very clear indication has been given by the Government of the line wnich they propose to take, but aa it was stated by the Premier two years ago that their intention was to put the question "on such a footing that we snould not be required to make any alterations for many years, and perhaps generations to come, to put it on un iutelligiblo and reasonable and logical' basis," something better than mere trifling with the question may be expected. Mr. Balfour's retrogressive measure of 1904 vill of coursa provido the starting point, and it should be a comparatively easy matter to set a time limit to the compensation clause and to restore to the local licensing authorities some at least of the discretion to refuse liccnseß and impoee conditions which was so seriously curtailed by that measure. To these two points t|io party was committed by tho unanimous voto of tho National Liberal Federation before the last general election, but it is considered probable that the Bill will also make provisior for' some form of the Direct Veto. An almost equally thorny series oi questions awaits Mr. M'Kcnna in the Education Bill. After occupying a vast amount of time in the first session of tho present Parliament, tho matter was given a spell last year, and it is likely that the champions of the Church will have a measure even less to their liking than, that •which tho House of Lords enabled them to wreck in 1906. It was stated by Mr. Asquith a few days ago that "the generous and indulgent facilities which had been granted by the Government in regard to denominational instruction would not bo repeated," which, from the denominationalists' point of view, of course, means that they are to bo chastised with Fcorpions instead of whips. The Scottish Land and Valuation Eilb, whirh were killed by the Lords last year, wi'i, as a matter of course, be brought forwai-d again, and & Valuation of Property Bill is also promised for England and ' Wales. Ireland is to have a Compulsory Acquisition of Un^enantad Lands Bill, which I is presumably to take the place of the Evicted Tenants' Relief Bill of last, 'session — another of the victims of the House of Lord 3. Besides tho Land Billn thpre aro two special measures of social reform which may bo expected to plcau2 the Labour party— tho Hours of Labour in Coal Mines Bill and the Housing of the Working Classes Bill. But where is thfi measure which has been more eagerly canvassed in anticipation th'pn any other— the Old Age Pensions Bill? The Government are far too deeply committed on the question, both by their promises last session end by numerous ppeechss during the recess, to evade dealing with it, and it is odd that what most people regard as tho most important matter they have in hand should be entirely omitted from the catalogue. There may be details stil) to be settled, but the general features must be in black and whito by now. and the debate on ths Address-in,-Reply will doubtless elicit, what they are.