BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9094, 13 March 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

ARMY ESTIMATES, Press Association.—Copyright. Received Marchps, 10.5$ p.m. London, March 12. During sldiscussion on the Army estimates Mr H. Fownes-Luttrell moved the reduction of the regular army personnel of 185,000 10,000, hut the closure was carried and the Army vote agreed to. DUBLIN CROWN JEWELS.” Mr Birrell, in reply to Mr William Redmond, protested against the particularly cruel and offensive statement published by a London newspaper regarding the Dublin Crown jewels robbery. He added that no [grave criminal scandal had been discovered, and nobody was sheltered'from prosecution. THEgGLENAHIR A 'OUTRAGE. Received March 13, 7.53 a.m. Loudon, March 12. In connection with the Gleuahira outrage Mr Birrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, declared that Inspector Preston’s report of the 7th September was modified into the report of the 11th, because the law officers found it contained suggestions, also matters of fact, some of which occurred before he 'arrived on the scone. The second report was prepared and signed without anybody’s interference or suggestion, Mr Birrell denied that the report was altered, offered to produce the original of the first report, and added that if both sides [wanted a public inquiry it would be held, as the last thing Government wished was to conceal anything [[or beep anything back. Mr Redmond gave notice [of motion in favour of a public inquiry into the matter. Irish members ami Unionists support the- demand that Inspector Preston’s report of the 7th be issued. It states that whoever exploded the bomb did not intend to kill Lord Ashtowa or seriously to damage the house. SCOTTISH SMALL HOLDINGS. In the House of Lords the Duke of Moutrose proposed an amendment in favour of the rejection of the Scottish Small Holding Bill and the substitution of a resolution that the House was against the extension of crofter holdings to toe whole of Scotland establishment of a Land Court to deal with the question on the ground that the changes had not the approval of the agricultural interest affected. The amendment was carried by 153 to 38.

Lord Lcrebnra promised that if the House would go into Committee on the Scottish Landholders’ Bill Government would meet all amendments in a most conciliatory spirit. Lord Eosebury, who supported the Duke of Montrose, wrote to the Times that “ deeds were more significant than words. After considering the Lord’s objections for seven mouths, the Government returned the Bill unaltered although all the Scottish agricultural authorities up” held the Lords. ” THE UNEMPLOYED. Mr Eamsay Macdonald, interviewed, said that the Labour Party was in deadly earnest over the Unemployed Workmen Bill and would not permit it to be shelved. If '„not passed there would be large demonstrations of protest all over the country. THE LICENSING BILL. The Bishop of London advocates that the time limit in the Licensing Bill be fixed at 21 years. A CALCULATED INDISCRETION. " The Times’ military correspondent states that his calculated indiscretion was one of the main determining causes which led Mr Asquith to make a clear and emphatic announcement of naval policy. [The indiscretion referred to may be the reference to the Kaiser’s letter in The Times. ]