IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 26

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE INSURANCE BILL LONDON, December 20. A referendum of the doctors on the fnsuranee Bill is proceeding. Already ',0,000 have voted against it, and 352 or it. ~ December 20. Two thousand members of the British edical Association (London) resolved that le council of the association had failed i its duty in safeguarding the sick conations, and added that every practitioner hould refuse to work under the Insurnoe Bill until their demands had been lefinitely conceded. December 21. It is reported that the doctors who are opposing the Insurance Bill are raising among the profession half a million sterling as a guarantee fund to provide against loss, and so as to make the boycott of the act possible, even in districts where the doctors' organisation is weakest. v December 22. Mr J. Gulland, M.P.,. speaking on behalf of the Liberal candidate for Govan, declared that the Insurance Bill might contain small grievances or flaws, but an amending bill would probably be introduced in 1912 to remedy the defects developed by practical working. At a special conference of the members of the General Federation of Trade Unions, representing a membership of a quarter of a million, it was unanimously resolved to form a separate section of the federation, and to become an "approved" society under the National Insurance Act. THE CIVIL SERVICE. LONDON, December 21. Mr Asquith, in replying to a memorial signed by 400 members of the House of Commons presented in August, agreed to appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the system of appointments and promotion in the civil service. A BY-ELECTION. LONDON, December 21. The by-election for Ayrshire (N.), ren-

dered necessary by the appointment of Sir A. Anderson, K.G., as Solicitorgeneral, resulted as follows :—• Captain D. Campbell (U.) 7318 Sir A. Anderson (L.) 7047 The figures at the general election last December were:—• Mr Anderson ... ... ... 7286 Captain Campbell 6932 The Insurance Act was the chief issue and the cause of the turnover of many Labour votes. HOME RULE. LONDON, December 21. Speaking in North Ayrshire, Mr A. M. Anderson, M.P., K.C., declared that nobody had ever suggested to give Ireland control of Customs and Excise. The Government proposed to put Ireland in the same position as British Columbia occupies towards the Dominion of Canada.