BRITISH POLITICS.

Mataura Ensign, 15 December 1911, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

NOT POPULAR. BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT, j PEE UNITED PRESS >S=-oriATION. Received December 1" R. 5 a.m. LONDON. Dee. 14. In the House of Commons in the Finance Bill deba+n Mr Austen Cham"berlain (ex-Chancoilo 1 ' rf the Exchequer) i complained that the House of Commons • "had not discussed finance for three years. I Mr Lloyd George (Chancellor of the Exchequer) replied that economy was not a popular subject. 1 REDUCING NATIONAL DEBT. Received December 15, 10.35 a.m. !> LONDON, Dec. 14. I Continuing, Mr Lloyd George said 1 1 there was little hope of reduction in < . expenditure in the House of Commons which alone could effect economy. They were always pressed for greater ex- 1 . penditure. If Parliament wanted economy it must mould the country's . foreirn policy in such a way as to render the increase of armaments unnecessary. The Government hoped to reduce the National Debt by £10,500.000 : this year, making a reduction of £BO,000,000 during its tenure of office. | i INSURANCE BILL. ! i 32.000 DOCTORS' REFERENDUM, j Received December 15. 10.35 a.m. | LONDON, Dec. 14. ; ■ A referendum of 32 000 doctors on the , National Insurance Bill has commenced. THE FINANCE BILL. . LONDON, Deo. 14. In tlie- v House of Commons the Fin-wo Bill was - read a third time in a thin louse. THE ESTIMATES COMMITTEE. Received December 15. 10.45 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 14. A deputation accepted the Prime Minister's promise to set up a Committee on the Estimates. PARLIAMENT TO PROROGUE. LONDON. Dee. 14. Parliament will be prorogued on Saturday and will reassemble on February 14. APPELLATE JURISDICTION. Received December 15. 10.45 a.m. IJNDON, Dec. 14. in the House of Commons the Prime Minister (Mr Asquith) said the Appel- J late Jurisdiction Bill would bo reintro- j . duced in 1912. WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE. Received December 15, 10.45 a.m. i LONDON, Dec. 14. I A deputation from the National I League to the Prime Minister stated j that- they were opposed to women's suf- ; frage and asked Mr Asquitli to submit j the question to a referendum before le-; gislating. j The Prime Minister stated that while j lie , was opposed to a referendum he' thought that in this instance it might j be satisfactorily used! because the ques- j tioi: cut athwart all party lines. j ! ■ —i