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Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 15120, 14 August 1913, Page 7

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* UNIONS AND POLITICS. A CONFERENCE DECISION. "Times" —Sydney "Sun" Special Cables Press Association—By Tel.—Copyright LONDON, August 12. A private conference of labour leaders at Cardiff resolved that the success of trades unionism depends on' maintaining political activities. The Parliamentary Labour Executive refused to recognise Mr Kenyon's candidature for the Chesterfield bye-elec-tion. The local Labourites and Liberals adopted Mr Kenyon's candidature, but the Socialist section strongly opposed the so-called Labour-Liberal candidate., THE CHANNEL TUNNEL. The Channel Tunnel .scheme for submission to Parliament provides for a length of twenty-four miles, and a depth of a hundred feet below the sea, and for electric trains, with a speed of forty-eight miles' per hour. The cost is estimated at sixteen millions. TAX ON TEA. LAND TAXERS IN CONTROL. Press Association —By Tel. —Oopyritrht LONDON, August 12. In the House of Commons, on the Finance Bill, a motion to reduce the duty on tea by 2d per lb., in favour of , British grown was rejected by 192 to 70. Major Dundas White asked whether it was intended to pass Clause 11 of the Revenue Bill, under which in the valuation of agricultural land, no deductions are to be allowed for improvements made upwards of thirty years before 1909. Mr Austin Chamberlain described the clause as a bribe to tho land taxors group. Subsequently Mr Lloyd George had some negotiations with the Opposition, which were result- \ less. The Opposition is willing to pass the clause if amended with a view to fixing the unimproved value of agricultural land without a limit, but the land-value group insist on a limit and threaten amendments to prevent the Bill proceeding. LAND VALUATION. THE BILL WITHDRAWN. "*■ Received 10.5 p.m., August 13th. LONDON, August 13. In the House of Commons the Revenue Bill has been abandoned. Clause 11 provided a method of valuation showing the site value of land after de- [ ductions for improvements or expen- ' dituro of a capital nature incurred in the past thirty years. The Unionists offered to allow the Bill to pass subject to tho omission of the time limit. The Radicals objected to any modification, relying on Mr Llovd George's • announcement that the measure would ■ be dropped. ' Mr Prettyman said the Government must...take the blame for the loss of. the Bill, which was due solely to the , late period of the session, at which it ; was introduced. i