IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4322, 10 February 1910, Page 2

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

London, February 9. One more return has come in, leaving two more to complete the list. The return of a Unonist candidate leaves the totals of the respective parties as follows: Liberals .. .. 276 Nationalists .. .. 81 Labour.. .. .. 38 395 Unionists .. .. 273 Total .. 668 Liberal majority .. 122 Following is the additional return : Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities: Sir Henry Craik, Unionist, 4879; Pollock, Unionist Freetrader, 3411. Received 8.45 a.m. 10th. London, February 9. The Government finances are being maintained by short-dated Treasury bills. There are£35,00.000 now outstanding, and £270,00,000 of income tax has to be collected before the end of March. Mr Healy, in a letter to Mr Redmond, asks why he was not invited to the meetings of the Parliamentary party, and on what principle Mr Redmond selects the party. He accuses Redmond of reckless and criminal disruption of the party. TO REFORM THE LORDS. Received 10.45 p.ra., 9th. London, February 9. Mr Griffiths, M.P. for Wednesbury, writing to the Daily Mail proposes that the Upper House be curtailed to 200 members, the colonies to be asked to nominate 40 members who have done Imperial jwork, Canada to have ten, Australia eight, and the others proportionately. He adds that the Imperial Navy is now an urgent necessity. The Dominions perceive the need and will begin to build unless they are given a chance for expressing their feelings in the management of the navy. Britain cannot expect any fixed method or percentage of contribution: “We have had enough of slamming the door in the face of the colonies.”

Received 8.45 a.m., 9th. London, February 9. Lord Onslow, in a letter to the Daily Mail, refers to Lord Rosebery’s committee showing the consensus of opinion is to admit into the House of Lords a current of fresh air. Twenty out of twenty one supported Lord Rosebery’s proposal for the representation o£ large urban communities and cities. Other instances show that an influential body of persons is willing to reform the House of Lords, and to make it the strongest and most efficient Chamber possible under the existing circumstances.