BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13836, 25 February 1907, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM BILL.

VIEWS OF THE TIMES,

Press Asjocialion—By Telegraph—Copyright,

LONDON, February 23,

(Received Feb. 24, at 4.59 p.m.) The Times declares that Lord Newton's bill would give the House of Lords greater stability of composition. It would also make it a more olFeotivfe political organisation and of a less definitely oiie-siilcd character from the parly point of -view. It would also have greater ;mthority with tlio country. It will he difficult for the House of Commons to reject tlio .measure if members, are 'contemplating an appeal lo the country largely-on (lie cry of interference Iry a, body not representative aiid composed of hereditary legislators.

THE TARIFF DftllATE,

" FOUND!N(( AN EMPIRE ON I'lPl'lNS." , LONDON,' February 22. One point in .Sir (iilbert Parker's sjieeeb in the Ilmise of 1 Oolnilionfi' on the tariff amendment lo Ihe Address-in-Rcply is attracting notice, fie pointed out that when iri 1859 Mr niadfitoiio made it treaty with France, trade preference tti the I'ape was withdrawn, the result being that the Cape's eSpoil of wine to (Wat Ili'ifain dropped immediately from £200,000 to £17,000, and 10-day it- wits iilsignificaiit. He supposed fliiit if prcferohce had been maintained Oreiit Britain might, now be importing u. miliitjii pounds' worth. Mr Lloyd-George, commenting on tils suggestions of Mr liaifour, Sir (4. I'mi-er, aiid Mr Hill, asked whether these members were seriously restricted to ptoposals to' reduce tlio duly on Tinlara wine and to founding an Empire on pippins.

DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER. liihh. INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. LONDON, February 23. (Received Feb. 24, at 4.38 ji.irt.) In the House df CumiUftns tlifc Deceased Wife's Sister Hill has tie'eh introduced by' Sir W. Gjirdoh, /and read a sccond {into by 263 to 34. It follows the, lints of tbfc bill passed by the House of Lords in 1896 txmccrtimg the scruples of dlergyhicii. t [From the yea t 184!) (ip-fertile present time attempts liiivc bocrl made both in the Iloiiso of Lords and in the Hmiso of Commons to carry a. bill" inakinff marriage with a deceased wife'f, sister but so far they have always, (ailed. As'n rule tlio House of Commons lias carried tho bill by a large majority, but it .has been thrown out in (ho Lords, In ,1896; however, the bill was earned by the HotfSfi of Lottls, lint went no' fiil-tjer. Tho'-Colonial Bill ib mttkc marriages of I his class lawfully contrficfc<l iii the coltfnies valid;'also in England, became l.iw in 19C6.] ARiit estimates!. REDUCTION OF £2,600,000. LONDON, February 23. (Received Feb. 24, at 4.38 p.iri.) Tho Ariiiy Estlihitles preSciited by tlie Govcriiiiient are £2,036,000' below, those of 1906, bullae the automatie growth of cettaiii charges are iliet the actual reductions amount to £2,600,000. '

According to a recent' statement issiifcd by tlio ColHlon Club tflfc expenditure on the army and navy, "irrespective of tliat provided, for oiit of borrowed hiohey, or that incurred for the aririy and ftiivy by oilier departinfhts, Oi ; ,.tliat'contrltiilled by liidia and colonics (rill eliowing great incrpates) Ims rkoli from , £40.000,006 in 1895-6 io £63.20?,000 in 1905-6—that is, bv £25,202,000, or 57 per rent.". Referring (o j\lr Haldann's army scheme This Times militarv critic 'mu;J il, was a return lo ib conditions of 1872, "well knowing tliat we do so with tenfold greater political and military commitfnents."