IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13650, 18 July 1908, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

SUFFRAGETTES AND PENSIONS. Hre-ss Associatkm-Bv Talegraph-Copyrtght LONDON, July-16. Mr Robert Pearce, Liberal number for Leek, Btaft'ordshre, and Mr C. Corbett, liberal member for Grinstead, Sussex, are initiating a Bill in the House of Commons to .treat girls and women sentenced, for political offences as first-class misdemeanants, except when cases of damage ta, property or grievous bodily harm are involved. The "Times-" deprecates the House of Lords rejecting or de'aying the Old Age Pensions Bill since they will place, themselves in a very difficult and dangerous situation without -effecting any re;il reform, as they do not possess the power ro put forward any het-ter alternative. LANDS IN FLH. QUESTION- OF LEASING. ? Received-11.12 -p.m., July 17th. LONDON, July 17. In (lis House of Lords, the Earl of Crewe, in reply to a quW>ti-nii.''-'said the" tenure of unoccupied' native lands in Fiji, was communal. While rejecting the p'nn'eVfc' proposal and not in complete agreement with the alternative xi-henr*'■■'flie' Imperial Government were willing with the consent, of the Council and chiefs that sonle land immediately required for occupation should be leased to those who were willing to develop it; but only rarely should natives' land be sold. The proceeds in either caw shotild he held in trust for Ilia benefit of the existing community, and .the.ii" successors. Lord Sionmore, in thanking the Earl fnr.livv statement, agreed to its general tenonr.