BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9100, 20 March 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE LICENSING BILL,

Press Association —Copyright. Received March 19, .8.56 p.m. London, March 19,

A crowded mooring, representing one hundred thousand brewery debenture holders, held in Loudon, presided uvor by Lords Rothschild and Faber, unanimously; condemned the Licensing Bill as not promoting temperance, hut the confiscation of properties acquired under the sanction of the State and relying on the protection of the law. Lord Rothschild stated that the Bill would injure millions of insurance shareholders and policy holders. The extension of the time limit to 21 years was no compromise. If the Bill was passed the question as to the insufficiency of the gold reserves would be rs-opened. He warned the Government that the City always made its voice heard in the long run.

CHURCHILL ON SOCIALISM. Mr Winston Churchill, addressing the Associated Chambers of Commerce, declared that the insane Socialist idea'of controlling national production was impracticable and unthinkable, and if attempted.would produce a most terrible shrinkage of productive energy. A CLERICAL EDUCATION BILL. The Bishop of St. Asaph resubmitted in the House of Lords the Education Bill he introduced in 1904.

It accepts tide principles of public control, abolition of tests, and providing simple Christian teaching at given school hours at the cost of the local education authority, and giving facilities three times a week for enabling children whose parents wish them to receive distinctive religions instruction to do so but not at the cost of the local education authority. The Church of England, under the Bill, gives up the appointment of teachers and contracting out, and transfers its school buildings for secular instruction.

The Times hints that the Bishop is receiving some Ministerial encouragement. Liberal papers suggest 'that ’-the right of entry ' for denominational teaching will be an obstacle to acceptance of the Bill.

BRITISH NAVAL SUPREMACY. Received March 20, 8.30 a.m. Loudon, March 19. In the House of Lords Lord Cawdor criticised the policy of the Admiralty and urged the acceleration of the construction of the proposed dock at Eosyth, Firth of Forth. He insisted that the dock was necessary in order to make our supremacy unassailable by any two of the greatest Powers.

Lord Tweedmouth replied that Mr Asquith’s recent declaration as to two power standard was most decisive. In 1911 no combination of two firstclass Powers would be equal to Britain’s strength. He, however, preferred as a standard equality|with any reasonably probable combination of foreign powers. He hoped to finish Rosyth in seven years.

LORD TWEED MOUTH CRITICISED. Unionist newspapers describe Lord Tweedmouth’s conception of the two-power standard as absolutely unsafe and untenable inasmuch as the attitude of foreign powers is always liable to unforeseen change. THE EIGHT HOURS DAY. In the House of Commons Mr Glynes moved that the working day in all trades and industries slionld be limited by law to a maximum of eight hours.

Mr Herbert Samuel said that the resolution was too sweeping. Agriculture was unable to accept such a rigid rule and it was impossible to insist on the limitation in domestic service, the textile trade and shipping. Government meant to push the Miners’ Eight Hours Bill.

Mr Balfour asked if diminution in the output of the textile trade would injure our foreignprade why riot the diminution of coal production?

Mr A. Henderson advised the withdrawal of the resolution, but owing to objection to this course it was talked out. cost op labour colony. Mr Burns, in reply to a question asked by Sir F. Channing in the House of Commons, stated that after allowing for sale of produce and the relief given to dependents the weekly cost per man at the Labor Colony at Hollesley Bay was from 20s to 42s compared with a local wage rate for agricultural labourers of 17s. THE PREMIER’S HEALTH. The slight improvement in Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman’s condition is maintained and he passed a good night.