BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2078, 13 May 1907, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

Press Association. —Copyright. LONDON, May 10;

Sir H. Campbell Bannerman, at Manchester, in a vigorous party speech, incidentally directed his sarcasm on Mr. Balfour’s tardily coming into line with tariff reformers. Mr. Balfour was countenancing an attempt to use the imperial Conference for party purposes. He remarked that efforts to sow dissension between the Government and the colonies had failed, as it deserved. He recognised that a severe struggle was approaching on the question ot tariff reiorm. In reference to Prince Billow’.* speech he declared the suspicion that Britain wished to embarass Germany by raising the question of limitation of armaments was absolutely unfounded . Mr. Birrell has promised that no preference would be permitted to religious denominations. Nationalist Commoners were asking for information concerning the religious bedels of the Irish Privy Councillors, land commissioners, and also the names and occupations of 666 deputy-lieu-tenants.

The 'Times declares the perils to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council will be fewer and slighter if its composition corresponded more closely with the variety of its tasks. In the House of Commons, Mr. Churchill announced that in the event of the necessary Bid passing the Transvaal Legislature, providing for a loan of five millions for irrigation, railway development, and the establishment of a land bank, the Imperial Government would be willing to guarantee it.