IMPERIAL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 10, 9 March 1910, Page 7

IMPERIAL.

THE second week’s sitting of the new Parliament lias not been of an exciting nature, ~its

chief feature being the Government's announcement that the veto resolutions will be taken before the Budget. Income tax is now fourteen millions in arrears, and it has been suggested by the Opposition that a resolution empowering the collection of this sum should first be submitted. To this course the Government does not seem disposed, preferring to retain the financial crisis as a weapon for use while the veto resolutions are under consideration.

Mr. Lloyd George declared that unless the Government was able to ensure that its proposals would become law it would quit office. The Government, the Chancellor continued, would stand or fall by its pledges. It was impossible to ask for the exercise of the Royal prerogative until it was known whether the Lords rejected the principle ensuring the predominance of the will of the Commons within the lifetime of a single parliament.

It is rumoured that the Government will introduce a dual Budget, covering two years, and thus enable Mr. Lloyd George to modify the whisky duties, in order to satisfy the Irish party. Several newspapers declare that it is an open secret that there is an acute difference of opinion in the Cabinet, especially concerning tactics. Mr. Percy Holder Illingworth, M.P. for Shipsey, Yorkshire, has been appointed Junior Lord of the Treasury, and Mr. Charles Peter Allen, member for Stroud, Charity Commissioner.

Lord Muskerry. addressing the Imperial Merchant Service Guild at Liverpool. complained that while so much attention was focussed on the great increase in the German navy, no attention was given to the extraordinary increase in the German merchant navy. Trade was slipping away from us in all parts of the globe, and was being annexed by Germans. who were our most dangerous opponents in the matter of mercantile maritime commerce.

The promotion of Admiral Sir Arthur Dalrymple Fanshawe to the active list of Admirals of the Fleet, vice the Right Hon. Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, is announced. Vice-Admiral Sir Edmund Samuel Poe becomes Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Squadron, and Admiral Sir Assheton Gore Howe, who now holds that post, becomes Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. In the third test match in South Africa England defeated the home team by three wiekets. South Africa scored 305 and 237, and England 322 and 211 for seven wickets. Denton made a century in England’s first innings and Hobbs 93 (not put) in the second. Mr. Louis Botha (the Transvaal Premier) , replying to a Het Volk address at Pietersb’urg. hoped the coming elections would not be a question of English versus Dutch, but that the best men would be returned.

Receiving at Buckingham Place the 'Archbishops of Canterbury (Dr. Davidson) and Y'ork (Dr. Lang), and many members of the two convocations, King Edward acknowledged their loyal addresses in recognition of his efforts to maintain the peace of the world. These efforts, he said, gave him special pleasure, and he was convinced that the influence of Christian teaching led increasingly to the inculcating of a love of peace. “Upon peace the health, happiness, and material progress of all nations depend.” continued His Majesty, “and it is my constant prayer that the country be spared from the" perils and miseries of war, which in this modern age must involve the ruin of millions.”

The Bishop of Lincoln (Dr. King), well known in connection with the Lincoln judgment on ritual questions, is in a very critical state, and has dictated a touching farewell.message to his diocese.

The Army Estimates t-otaL2B millions. Numbers of recruits are offering, both for the regulars and the territorials. The actual strength of the territorials is now 9701 officers and 262,03(1 men. The annual Rugby contest between England and France resulted in a victory for England by 11 points to 3.

There is great confusion in Great Britain over the collection of income tax owing to the Budget not having been passed. The authorities are refusing cheques for the tax.