BRITISH POLITICS

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12410, 27 November 1908, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS

THE LIUENaiNG BILL. K.ILLEO JJ/ THE^PEEKS. 'COMMENTS UY THE PRES?. .;. I Press Association— Copybight.l LondoD, Nov. 25. The ' 'Mail and ' ' Standard" suggest that Mr Asquith is secretly glad that the Licensing Bill is dead. The "Cntonicle" and tbe" Daily News" louaiy protest against the Unionißt Peers' action, and revive '■"Ml Lloyd <iwrge'a threats of high license duties. ■-• • » ■"■•.■ '"l'de Times" urges Mr Asquitn to withdraw tbe confiscatory proposals, to pursue moderation, as in the Education Bill, and to adopt minor regulations and administrar tire provisions. The paper adds that tne Lords may then willingly join in quickening the opt ration of Mr Baifour's Act. The "Westminster Gaz«tte" says that tde rnu.-t advance on an alternative lice of taxation which will automatically reduce public bouses and secure the nations rights in the liquor monopoly. The -".Pall Mall Gazeite" declares that tbe-Lords stand as _the champions of public opinioD against • a detested measure which the nominal representatives of the United Kingdom ate trying to force upon the community. The " Daily News" declares tbat it is possible to raise £7,000,000 yearly- by increasing liquor taxation to the American level. The ''Daily Chronicle" advocates • a tax of a penny in the £ on* land values, yioldiog £22,500,000 a year. In the House of Common 3 a Bill was introduced by Mr W. M. Field (Nationalist) providing methods for identifying all. imported meat, whethßr fresh or frozen , and thereby ensuring that it shall not be sold as native proiuce. Tfc« Bill • was read a tirst time. Mr BuxtoD, Postmaster-General, epeaking at Ilford, said tbat whatever might happen to Government measures, the House of Lords would Dot dictate to tne Government wbeo it should dissolve Parliament.