BRITISH POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 18

BRITISH POLITICS.

LONDON, January 12. The Hereford by-election resulted thus : Roberts (Coalition Unionist), 9670; Langford (anti-waste Liberal), 7411. [At the general election of 1918 the seat was won by Mr C. T. Pulley .’.(Coalition Unionist), who polled 11,680 votes, against 3730 polled by Mr Sydney Box (Labour).] January 13. The Dover by-election resulted as fol lows:—Poison, 13,947; Astor (Coalition), 10,817. January 14. The newspapers declare that the Dover election is a crushing defeat for the Coalition and that the public demand for lesser taxes and no Government waste is so insistent that no Coalition seat is safe unless sweeping economies are effected. [At the general election the votin 6 was: Captain Lord Duneannon (Co. U.), 11,249; Lieutenant A. M. Livingston (Liberal), 5121.]

SALARIES OF CABINET MINISTERS. LONDON, January 13. A Parliamentary Select Committee, reporting on Ministers’ salaries, quotes Mr Lloyd George’s declaration that in the present condition of the national finances he is unable to accept an increase, and recommended that no increase be made at present. Mr Ascjuith gave evidence that the Prime Minister was underpaid. He was poorer after holding office than he was

before. The occupation of No. 10 Downing street was a mixed advantage. Tile House certainly did not add to the sweets and spoils of office. It was impossible for a man to discharge the duties of the Premiership properly without private means.