BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9093, 12 March 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE NAVY ESTIMATES. Press Association —Copyright. Received March 11, 9.47 p.m. London, March 11. In the course of'his reply to Mr Balfour Mr Asquith said that without forecasting the programme for 1909 he oould say without the faintest hesitation that if we find there is a reasonable probability of the German programme being realised as the paper figures suggest, we shall feel it oiir duty to provide, and shall provide, a sufficient number of ships at such date of laying down that by November, 1911, the superiority of Germany which Mr Balfour foreshadows will not be an fact. (Loud Opposition cheers.) Mr Asquith added; “That is the policy of the Government. It remains on record, and ought to reassure the House that we do not intend to be left behind.” (Cheers.) " The Times declares that gMr Asquith’s explicit declaration will be received throughout the country with profound satisfaction and no little sense of relief. EIGHT HOURS BILL. Iu the House of Commons Mr Gladstone was asked if he would consent to defer the Miners’ Eight Hours Bill for another session owing to the depression of industries largely dependent on the price of coal. He replied in the negative. The Metal Exchange at Swansea, representing 330 members of Soudi Wales and Monmouthshire, unanß mously condemned the Bill, predicting that it would seriously diminish the output of coal, increase the price, audAujurc trade. THE PREMIER’S HEALTH. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman’s condition Is" less satisfactory, though there was some improvement in the

evening. Received March 13, 5.43 j Loudon, .March 11. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman had a quiet night and is more comfortable. CONTEMPT OF COUNT. Received March 13, 5.32 a.m. Lomlon, March 11. At the instance of tiro nationalists who sympathise with Mr Ginned, member for Westmeath, who is now undergoing imprisonment for contempt of court, the House of Commons by a majority of lie an opted a motion that the jurisdiction in matters of contempt of Court was arbitrary and required limiting. Mr Birrell declared that the law of contempt was an excrescence ami its amendment was urgem!.;. Acquired.

MPv. ASQUITH AS LEADER

Tho Standard attributes the Cabinet’s definite statement on naval construction to Mr Asquith’s growing ascendency. It declares that Mr Asquith is trying to induce the Cabinet to break from Socialists and says that he deputed Mr‘;p\ Maddison to move the rejection of Mr J, H. 'Wilson’s Unemployed Bill, which provides that registered unemployed and their dependents be maintained at tlie public expends.