IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2184, 7 May 1908, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE LICENSING BILL * LENGTHY PETITIONS. United Press Association—Copyright LONDON, May a. Lord Robert Cecil presented a London petition bearing 600,000 signatures and covering nine miles of paper against the Licensing Bill. Mr. John Wilson presented a petition a mile and one-third in length. There were 160.010 Methodists signatures in lavor of the Bill. In .the llouso of Commons Mr. Carcw’s amendment was rejected by a majority or 250, ami the Licensing Bill was road a second time b.v BS4 to 108 and referred to a eommitteo of the whole House. Air Asquitih denied that the imposition of the time limit was confiscation. He remarked that supposing the Chancellor of' The Exchequer proposed an ascending scale of licenso duties it would not be called confiscation. He was not proposing to take a monopoly value that way step by step, but allowed 15 years’ notico, including the year granted for tlio reassessment of, licensed premises. The majority was composed of 334 Liberals, 51 Labor, 3 Nationalists, and 7 Unionists. Many Liberals openly declare that they hope the House of Lords will reject tlio Bill unless drastic amendments aro made in committee. THE EDUCATION QUESTION IRISH UNDER SECRETARY Uuiled Press Association —Copyright LONDON, May 5. The Catholic Bishop of Birmingham is warmly supporting Air. A-niery, Unionist candidate for 'Wolverhampton, on the ground of education. Air. Birred informed Lord Lonsdale that Sir J. B. Dougherty succeeds Sir Antony AlcDonell in the UndorSeeretarysliip for Ireland.

THE WOLVERHAMPTON ELECTION. A NARROW WIN. United Press Association —Copyright (Received Aiav 6, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. Tho Wolverhampton East bye-elec-tion resulted in the return of Air. G. Thorne (Liberal). Tho voting was-: G. Thorne (Liberal) ... 4514 L. S. Amery (Unionist) ... 4506 Liberal majority ... 8 [The Wolverhampton East seat was occupied by Sir H. H.. Fowler, and was rendered vacant by that member bein £ given a seat in the House of Lora's. Mr. Amery stood for the seat at tho last general election, and the voting then was: Sir H. H. Fowler 5610, L. S. Amery 2745.] THE NEW HEBRIDES. MEMBER -FOR THE JOINT COURT. United Press Association—Copyright. (Received Alay 7, 12.52 a.m.) LONDON, May 6. In the House of Commons Lieut.Colonel Seeley, in reply to-a question, said tlliat owing to the exceptional nature of the qualifications desirable, there was some difficulty in finding -a suitable candidate for the -post of British member of the joint court at the New Hebrides, but he hoped one would be early selected. Ho added the court cannot commence its functions until the buildings a-r'o completed in the autumn.