BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 85, 30 March 1908, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THF. MIXER'S EIGHT HOURS TlH.i, London, March 28,

The Home Secretary, Mr. Herbert Gladstone, in replying 'to a deputation of business men engaged in iron, steel shipp;ng, and cotton trades, and other users of coal, declared that the Miners' Eight Hours Bill provided au additional half i n hour's work above what would be allowed by a rigid bank-to-b ink eight hours Bill. The best experts would examine the economic side with a view iO reaching a reasonable basis. The Bill van open to amendment. The Goverm, unt would pass uo measure which in their honost judgment Ministers , thought would do harm, perm incut or other .vise, to the industries of the country.

tiir Hugh 8011, while thanking Mr. Gladstone, deelarod that the speech did pot allay their anxiety.

THE PREMIER'S ILLNESS. London, March 27. The condition of Sir 11 enry CampbellBftDJiorman is unchanged. A UNIONIST SPEECH.

London, March 27. Tho Duke of Northumberland, speaktag Newcastle, described the Peckham bye-election, in which the Liberal candidate was defeated, as a miniature general election. He emphasised the argument that, there was a revulsion of leelir.s; against the falsehoods about Chinese labor on the Rand, and tho plundering Licensing Bill. It attacked capital, he said, and unless capital were defended, workmen might find them»elves worse off.

THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME. THE LICENSING BILL. SPEECH BY JOHN BURNS. Received 20th, 4.17 p.m. London, March 21). Speaking at Battersea, Mr. John Burns, President of the Local Government Board, said the Government reJaembered its promises regarding trades disputes, workmen's compensation,small holdings, clean and pure food, and such useful legislation as the Children's Bill, which was one of the greatest measures that bad ever been produced. All the matters had been attended to or would be attended to during the next three tessions, during which the Government Intended to remain in office.

The Licensing Bill, Mr. Burns said, was a just, practical, and necessary mea»ure, and was the logical outcome of the Act of 1904. It treated publicans more equitably than before, and was equitable to the brewers. The Government intended to pass the Bill.

BREWERY INTERESTS. Vested interests in the brewing trade of the United Kingdom are immense. Thereforo the Imperial Government dust live been prepared for the present outburst of indignation when it decided upon its new licensing legislation. Apprehension in respect to the future ot the trade has been general for some time past, and has accounted in some, measure for the shrinkage not only in tie price of brewery shares, but also /or the depreciation in the worth of the debenture issues of the companies. A •hrimkage in the output of beer has also been responsible for some of this loss, but certainly the disturbing factor in the market has been the contemplated legislation. Tilie heavy fall in all brewery stocks since the introduction of the Licensing Bill into the House of Commons shows that the provisions of the treasure were even more drastic than *ss expected, though it had been assumad that it would hit the trade pretty hard. The Economist recently compiled A statement showing the capital and assets of sixteen English provincial companies that made up their accounts to September 30th, 1007. The share capital of these concerns amounted to £0,899,689, and debentures and mortgages to £7,797,271, or a total of £14,090,951. The total assets were ±'17,441,95!!, of which £11,943,951 i was freehold and leasehold properties, and inclusive of goodwill in some ease*. These properties are the main security of the debenture-holders, and it is manifest that if licenses are lost the value of the properties as assets will shrink rery greatly. This phase of the subject was put by the directors to the shareholders of the City and London Company, at their meeting recently held In London. It was then mentioned that 200 freehold hotels owned by the company Btood in its books at £2,000,000, If the licenses were taken away the value of the properties would drop to £300,000, or, if a 21 years' "time limit" were adopted, a sum of from £50,000 to £BO,OOO would have to be set apart each year to provide the amount at which tho properties now figured in the accounts.

CONTROL OP IRISH CLUBS. Received 29th, 10.17 p.m. London, March 28. In the House of Commons Mr. T. Hi Bloaa's Registration of Irish Clubs BUI was read a second time.

It is more drastic that Mr. Asquith'g BUI. It provides that no liquor shall be supplied ft)r consumption off the premises of a club; that no visitor nor honorary member residing within seven miles of the club premises shall be served with drink during prohibited hours; and that the right of entry and of inipection shall be given the police. During the debate of Mr T. W. Russell, member for South Tyrone, indicated that the last-mentioned clause required. amendment.