BRITISH POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 21

BRITISH POLITICS.

STATEMENT BY MR BALDWIN. LONDON, July 10

In reply to a question in the House of Commons the Prime Minister said he did not intend, prior to the Imperial Conference. to state the policy of the Government on the matters to be discussed. A debate at the present time would serve no useful purpose. The question whether the Government’s policy would be extended to preference on foodstuffs could not be answered, as a mass of evidence on the subject must be submitted and explored . s

IMPORTATION OF CATTLE. LONDON, July 10. Sir Robert Sanders (Minister of Agriculture), in the House of Commons, said that the Government had notified the dominions other than Canada that if the question of removing the restrictions on the importation of cattle was raised at the Imperial Conference, and mutually satisfactory arrangements reached, legislation would be introduced to give effect to the subject. WELFARE OF INFANTS. LONDON, July 9. Mr Frederick Sharp, solicitor, late of Wellington, in giving expert evidence before a Joint Committee of the House of Lords and the House of Commons on the Guardianship of Infants Bill, explained the New Zealand laws for safeguarding infants The committee was obviously impressed by New Zealand’s precedents. LIQUOR BILL. LONDON, July 14. The House of Commons read a third time Lady Astor’s Liquor Bill, Sir F. G. Banbury’s amendment to reject it being negatived by 257 votes to 10. Lady Astor remarked that Sir F. G. Banbury bad come to a time of life when the only chance for him was to be born again.—(Laughter.) She said she had been described as an alien who was attempting to impose her will on a free people. " She might be an alien, but she was not alien to the needs and wishes of the women of Great Britain.