BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9163, 5 June 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

PENNY POSTAGE TO UNITED

STATES. United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. London, Juno 4. In the House of Commons Mr Buxton was cheered on announcing that America had agreed to his proposal for an Anglo-American penny postage to operate from October Ist. There is great satisfaction in Britain and America at the announcement by Mr Moyer (the United States Postmaster), and Mr Buxton regarding penny postage. Mr Meyer showed that America already had several restricted postal unions'jwitli Canada, Cuba, Panama and Mexico, all like Britain in absolutely direct postal communication with the United States. This made penny postage possible, but on the other hand where the route traversed a third country the dues which go to the postal clearing house at Berne prevented similar arrangements. Mr Henuiker Heaton congratulated Mr Buxton on a postal reform so calculated to promote unity between two English speaking nations. He estimated the loss to the British Post Office at £130,000 per year.

DINIZULU'S SALARY,

In the House of Commons Sir W. S. Robson, replying to questions and criticisms remarking on Dinizulu, declared that the Imperial Government was under an honourable obligation to Dinizulu with regard to his salary and must see it fulfilled. He hoped that that Natal would soon see the inconvenience and danger of martial law continuing; otherwise the Imperial Government —always slow to move in such matters, owing to the constitutional difficulties involved—might be compelled to act. Durban, June . Diuizulu’s demand for the payment of his arrears of salary has been withdrawn owing to the impossibility of the Court hearing the application until October.

RUSSIAN AFFAIRS,

In the House of Commons, Mr J. A. Pease informed Mr Will Thorne regarding the Labourite memorial to Sir Edward Grey in connection with the abandonment of the King’s visit to Russia, that Sir E. Grey was unable to advise King Edward to abandon his visit.

Mr Thorne asked : Does that mean that the Government acquiesces in the brutal murders and outrages that occurred in Russia? JJ The question was received with protests, amidst which the Speaker rebuked Mr Thorne. Mr Hardie complained about the clerks at the table refusing to accept a question regarding the enumeration of the executions of political prisoners in Russia, and suggesting that Britain should'threaten to withdraw her Ambassador if Russia persisted in her present internal policy. The Speaker ruled that the first part of the question, instead of asking for information, conveyed information, and secondly it was no part of the British Government’s business to manage the internal affairs of a friendly State. Mr Hardie considered the ruling a curtailment of the rights of the House.

The Speaker denied this, and repeated his second point. THE SUGAR CONVENTION. Received June 5, 8.80 a.m. London, June 4, Mr A. Yilliers criticising Government for its adhesion to the Sugar Convention elicited from Sir E. Grey a statement that denunciation of the Convention would have provoked retaliation on British sugar products. Sir E. Grey added that the limitation of Russia’s export of sugar was unlikely to influence the prices m England. OLD AGE” PENSIONS. Received June-5, 93.3 a.m. Loudon, June 4 The Charity Organisation Society declares that it is impossible for Government to maintain restriction on Old Age Pensions either with regard to age, amount or discrimination.