THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9133, Issue 9133, 4 February 1910, Page 5

THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

THE OSBORNE JUDGMENT. MEMBERS PLEDGED TO ALTER THE LAW. (By Electricf Telegraph—Copyright.) (Per Press Association.) LONDON, Feb. 3. The Labour .-'Party claim that upwards of one-half of the members of the new House of Commons pledged themselves during the election campaign to support a Bill altering the law set forth in the Osborne judgment. Reference to the decision of the House of Lords in the Osborne appeal was made in our leading columns yesterday. The effect of the judgment is to make it illegal for the trade unions to levy upon their members for the support of Labour members in Parliament. THE BUDGET. TO BE THE FIRST QUESTION OF TI-IE SESSION. LONDON, Feb. 3. The fact that the Treasury is issuing three million worth of bills for one month to replace some falling due is interpreted to mean that the Budget will take priority over the question of the reformation of the House of Lords at the opening session of the new Parliament. THE STATE OF PARTIES. The number of members returned 's now 667, divided (as far as can be ascertained front the cabled reports) as follows: — • Liberals ••• 275 Unionists ... 271 Labour Members 41 Nationalists ... 667 The Nationalists include ten or eleven of the Independent section, led by Mr Wm. O'Brien. Only three returns remain to c ol 2£ in —one of these being Orkney and whetland, which is always the last to come to hand, on account of the polling booths being scattered among a number of islands a long distance apart, and communication being sometimes difficult The constituency has been represented by a Liberal for a long series of years. Mr J. C. Wason (formerly member for Sehvyi, New Zealand) represented Orkney *!n the last Parliament, and is seeking re-election.