IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 34

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE DUTY ON TEA. LONDON, May 22.

Mr Lloyd George has refused to amend hifl, Budget by making the duty on tea grown in the Empire 4d and on the rest 5d per lb. ELECTION PETITION. LONDON, May 22. The result of the East Cork election petition is that Captain Donelan (N.) has been unseated on the ground that accounts had been suppressed relating to compromising payments!; The election, ea-id the judge, was conducted with a reckless disregard of the statute. ["The polling at the election in December was:—Donelan (N.), 3173; O'Brien (1.N.), 1834. REFORM OF THE LORDS. LONDON, May 22. The second reading of Lord Lansdowne'e Reform Bill has been carried in the House of Lords. May 23. Lord Haldane, in reiterating his statement that the veto must first be settled and hoping' for the ultimate co operation of the two parties of reform, intimated that the Government was not dividing against the Bill. Lord Lansdowne, in winding up, said he had been criticised for not 'including representatives of the dominions, but he believed that it was impossible to adopi such a suggestion without a revolution going far beyond ihe limits of the bill. Hi' defended the fairness of the bill, but eaid he in nowise wished it to be regarded as unamendable. A STRIKING ADMISSION. LONDON, May 23. The Times describes as momentous and historical the fact that the House 0* Lords, notwithstanding several hostile speeches by the Opposition Peers, declared without a division that its ancient constitution stands in need of a thorough change and revision in order to adapt the Second Chamber to modern needs. THE FINANCE BILL. LONDON, May 23. The Finance Bill nas been read a first time.

THE VETO BILL. LONDON, May 24. The House of Lords was crowded when Lord Mcrley moved the second reading of the Veto Bill. Be said that the • methods of the biU were not final. It would bs open to the Government, when the bill was passed, to consider with the Unionists tine reconstitution of the Second Chamber. Meanwhile, the bill w.as there, and the bill must stand. He concluded by hoping that the Unionist leaders would avoid a course leading to extremities', and possibly landing the country in great difficulty, perhaps even in grave confusion.

Lord Middleton said that, viewing the bill as a temporary measure which it was not desired should remain on the Statute Book, he recommended their LordsliAps to give it a second reading, with a view to moving in committee grave amendments exempting from the operation of the bill proposals relating to the position or powers of the monarch on Irish Home Rule and other constitutional issues.

The Archbishop of Canterbury appealed for a 'cO'Hipromii&e. Lord Loreburn, in reply, said there was no such prospect, but there were hopeful signs of a possibility of an arrangement hereafter if the Liberals were given an equality of opportunity in passing their measures through a reconstructed House of Lords. Fresh relations between the two Hougiss might then be established by common consent. The debato was adjourned. INDUSTRIAL INSURANCE. LONDON, May 24. The President of the Board of Trade (Mr Sydney Buxton) moved the second reading of the National Insurance Bili. H> denied that the unemployment proposals were hazardous. They had been founded" on good actuarial calculations. It was important to make a start during years of good trade, in order to accumulate a substantial reserve. - May 25. The debate on the National Insurance Bill was adjourned after a general ap-

proval had been expressed. The principle will form the subject of an amendment at a later stage.

LABOUR AND POLITICS. LONDON, May 24. Mr Winston Chu: chill has introduced a bill to enable trade unions, after passing a special resolution, to tree their machinery for the purpose of political action, and to devote portion of their funds thereto. A proviso protects individuals who notify their objection to such expenditure. The Labour members are not wholly satisfied, inasmuch as they have consistently demanded tine complete reversal of the Osborne judgment. ANOTHER ELECTION PETITION. LONDON, May 24. The hearing of the Central Hull petition has opened. Evidence was given showing that there were gifts of coal on the eve of the election to 64 recipients who were voters and to 136 relatives of voters. [The election in December resulted as follows:-Sir H. S. King (U.), 3625; Dr R. W. Aske (L.), 3418.] LORD LOREBURN CRITICISED. LONDON, May 25. .. The British Weekly says: '.' Lord Loreburn's reckless and defiant appointments of Tory -magistrates is destroying the foundation of the Government, and he is incomparably the worst aiftd most danger-, ous enemy the Goverment possesses. Mr Asquith must cast this Jonah overboard." PARLIAMENT BILL. LONDON, May 26. The debate on the Parliament Bill was resumed by Lord Selborne, who declared it was essential • that the House of Lords, however reconstructed, should have the powers belonging to every civilised country, such as were granted, at the instance of the present Liberal Government, the Transvaal in 1907. Tho debate was adjourned till Monday. OSBORNE BILL. LONDON, May 26.. The Government's Osibome Bill enables a union, after a secret ballot, the taking of which must be superintended by tlie Registrar of friendly Societies, to apply its funds to political and municipal purposes, but the fund must be separated from the rest of its finance. Members of a union declining to subscribe are to be exempt from payment, without exclusion from any benefits. A union is not to be allowed to make contributions to the political fund a condition of admission. AIRCRAFT BILL. LONDON, May 26. Mr Churchill's Aircraft Bill provides penalties (including fines of and two years' imprisonment) against aviators endangering the safety of the public. COMPULSORY EDUCATION. LONDON, May 26. Mr Runciman has introduced a bill to abolish half-time scholars, and to enable the local authorities to compel the attendance of pupils at continuation classes till they are .16 years of age. If the local authorities do not compel attendancp, the normal age on leaving the elementary schools will be raised to 14.