BRITISH PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7079, 17 March 1910, Page 7

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

THE BUDGET TAXES STATEMENT OF GOVEK-NMENT'S INTENTIONS. A MOMENTOUS DECISION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, March 15. During a speech delivered by him at a Liberal banquet in the City, Sir Edward Grey, Secretary of State- 'for Foreign Affairs, said the Government intended to reimpose the Budget taxes. By that decision it would stand or fall. HEFOEM 0? THE LORDS . FOR AND AGAINST ELECTIVE 1 SYSTEM. LONDON, March 15. Sir Edward Grey, in a speech at the Liberal banquet yesterday, said: "If reform of the House of Lords is left to the other side, the Liberals will bo courting disaster, death, and damnation. The solution will bo an elective Chamber, elected not ne'eessarily simultaneously with the Houso of Commons, and not on tho same area." During his speech in tho House- . of Lords yesterday, in moving his reform resolutions, Lord Itosebery referred to Sir Georgo Reid as a man of infinite ability, popularity, and geniality. No better choice could possibly have boeii made by Australia for its High Commissioner. He asked how could SirGeorge Reid justify to Australians the abolition of tho Second Chamber in Britain, when Australia had secured a strong, efficient Senate in 1900. The colonies, ho added, had always taken care to securo strong Second Chambers. There is much comment in the newspapers on Lord Ilosebery's statement that ho deprecated popular election of "the peers. This, he argued, would only givea feeble understudy of the Houso of Commons, and multiply tho horrors of a general election,- but the Lords would derive some dignity by association with corporations and county councils formed into elective bodies, upon tho French basis. This representation, ho urged, should form no inconsiderable proportion of tho Upper Houso. A CHARTER FOR WOMEN COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, March 15. In tho House of Commons, Sir Charles McLaren, Liberal member for the Bosworth Division of Leicestershire, introduced a measure called "The Women's Charter." It incorporates nine Bills, containing provisions for ienfrajichisoinon!t of women and entitling women to divorco their husbands on the ground of tho men's unfaithfulness (at present cruelty as well as misconduct must bo proved). In the event of death, divorce, separation, or bankruptcy, it is provided that wives shall be raid an amount equivalent to the average wages paid to housekeepers. All educational facilities shall be shared by tho sexes equally. Provision is made for midwires, for tho establishment of creches modelled on those of the : Gorman (Pestalozzi and Froebel) houses, and the supplying of municipal milk for infants. The Bill was read a first time.