IMPERIAL POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14777, 9 March 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

LABOUR AND THE LORDS. Piom AjMClatioE—By Telegraph-Copyright, LONDON, March 7. Speal;i% at Cardiff, M. Philip Snowden, M.P. (Labour), said that the country was not ripe for the abolition of the Lords, but ony Liberal party attempting to make itr reconstruction the dominant election ifsuo would be driven into the wilderness for another generation. Any reform of the Lords would make the ■Second Chamber infinitely stronger against democratic progress. The Labour party, ho added, wanted the Budget. THE GENERAL ELECTION. ' LONDON, March 7. The total number of votes polled at tho icoent general election was 6,667,810, out of a possible 7,706,049. SHORTENING PARLIAMENT. LONDON, March 7. (Received Marcli 8, at 5 p.m.) Mr Asquith announced that his-resolu-tions of the 29th inst. would include proposals for shortening tho duration of Parliaments. ILKESTON BYE-ELECTION. COLONEL SEELY RETURNED. LONDON, March 8. (Received March 8, at 10.15 p.m.) . The Ilkeston, bye-election resulted as follows:— . Colonel Seely. (L.) ... ... 10,204 .Wright (U.)' 6,872 ARMY ESTIMATES. STATEMENT BY MR HALDANE. L'ONDON, March 8. (Received Marcli 8, at 11.30 p.m.) In the debate in. tho House of Commons on tho Army Estimates Ma- Haldane elated that tho Government was organising an aeronautical corps on tho.German pattern. Tho present deficiency of horses was 120,000. The Imperial General Staff scheme was, being developed. General ( G. W. Nicholson was receiving wockly communications with Tegard to its organisation. He hoped. Lord Kitchener's visit to Australasia would bear practical fruit. Major-general Sir G. A. French was going on a' similar mission to Canada. FAIR WAGES CLAUSE, GOVERNMENT ON VERGE OF' ' DEFEAT. LONDON, March 8. . (Received March 8, at 10.15 p.m.) !Mr RamsayMcdonald proposed a motion Urging that a fair wages clause be instituted' throughout the Qovornmont service. Mr C. E. Mallet admitted that tho War Office- sometimes paid below tho trade union rates. Tho Unionists promised Mr Macdonald therr Birpport, and tho defeat'of the government seamed imminent, but the liberals talked out tho motion. the Income tax, THE BANK'S PRACTICE _ LONDON, March 8. (Received March 8, at 10.45 p.m.) Replymg to Lord Balcarres, Mr LloydGeorge stated that the Bank of England was deducting tho income tax from the dividend, with the Treasury's concurrence, but the deductions wero not paid into tho Exchequer. Ho added that ho was taking the advice of the.law officers as to whether meomo tax payers who paid .behoving tho Government would carry the Budget before tho 31st March wore entitled to refunds. The Daily Mail, commenting on tho position, says:-" It is evident the country is paying. £2000 daily by way of interest upon.its own money, which the .banks are lending to the Government." . THE LORDS AND SUPPLY. _ LONDON, March 8. , (Received March 9, at 0.40 a.m. The House of Lords passed'tho War Loan Redemption Bill. In the debate on the socond reading of the Temporary Borrowing Bill, Lord Lansdowno said the Government had asked tho Lords for a special favour, and they had passed two bills at a single sitting, yet the Government would not stoop to ask for the power which would rondor tho present borrowing unnecessary. Earl Crowe described tho Opposition's offer to facilitate tho Government's financial measures as an oiivo branch shot frorr a catapult. Tho two Houses were in a state of war. Tho Lords doubtless might win back tho practice of splitting tho Budget into different bills, but tho House of Commons was not going to agree. Lord Cromer said the Government had debtors-willing to pay tho money, yet it ropliod, " I prefer to borrow, and I insist on not being paid." Tho present deficit in tho.income tax was £17,000,000 on which the interest was £1200 daily.