BRITISH POLITICS.

West Coast Times, 24 March 1910, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

AN ELECTION IMMINENT. COLLECTION OF INCOME TAX URGED . ( PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPIBIOBT ] LONDON, March 22. In tho Commons, A. D. Steel (Maitland) accused the Government of creating financial chaos . Mr Chamberlain asked how Government justified the deducting of income tax from the salaries ot public otnicals, if it was illegal to collect them from unofficial persons. Hon. Lloyd-George, replying, ridiculed the supposition that tho Treasury should beg payment of income tax, when they were unable to enforce the demand. Mr Komber has introduced a reform Redistribution Bill. The Conservatives, have determined to fight every constituency which they contested in the last campaign. Mr Butcher, M.P., is urging Government to take immediate steps to legalise the collection of income tax, because many millions are in tho hands of banks and companies throughout the country, some of which companies may possibly go into liquidation. Joseph -King lias introduced a Bill providing for holding all elections on one dav.

The resolutions proposed by Government with approval or disapproval according to the party lines. Tho Nationalists withhold their opinion pending the statement by the Premier as to how Government proposes to give effect to the scheme in the event of tho Lords reporting tho resolutions or postponing decision. A UNIONIST CAUCUS. LONDON, March 23. The Unionist party meets on Tuesday to consider Mr Asquith’s veto resolutions. Mr Balfour will then have returned from Cannes. John Redmond states that his interview with the Hon. Lloyd-George ha-, left the position absolutely unchanged The issue of Exchequer bonds has been twice subscribed. The Times states that many subscribed believing the bonds would be covered six-fold, consequently they now possess much more stock than they wanted The bonds arc quoted at one-eighth discount.

The Telegraph states that the Array and Navy Civil Service Estimates have been increased by nine millions, necessitating another twopence income tax, and reiinpositiou of the full sugar duty in the next Budget. In the Commons, replying to Mr A. Fell, Col. Seeley stated the All Red Route was under consideration, but bo was unable to say when a decision would Ik 1 reached. UNIONIST CLUB WINDS UR. The Unionist Free Trade Club lias wound up owing to the difference of opinion in relation to the import in e of free trade to other political issues. Lord James Hereford, Sir Fredcick Bollock and other members have jo:,ied the Free Trade Union Chib widen has hitherto been predominantly Liberal. The Union’s representatives have promised to co-operate with the i'( presenlatives of the Unionist free traders.

laird Reanchanip, President of the States Union, received £1(1,(IIW) in addition to £OOOO collected by the Daily Chronicle for the. purpose of an independent freetrade campaign before the election.

Sir E. Grey, addressing a free trade demonstration in London, declared :h.A tariff reform would make British polities, not only profligate, hut corrupt, and introduce seeds ol disunion ’UU‘. disruption throughout the Empire The Lords by 170 to 17 agreed to I.ord Rosebery’s third resolution. Lord Crewe stated that some such motion was necessary as a preliminary to any reform of the Lords’ constitution, although the Government intended to deal first with the relations of the two Houses they had never abandoned the question of reform. J.ord Ro-ehery suptnested that the Lords should consider further resolutions after Easter in view of the laying down the hroid principles upon which the reform proceeded, hut it was the business ol the Government to introduce a Rill.