BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 18815, 7 May 1920, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

' DIVORCE LAW AMENDMENT.

CHURCH VERSUS STATE.

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, May 5. The House of Lords debated Lord Buckmaster’s divorce Bill. The Primate moved a new clause forbidding the clergy to re-marry any divorced person in any Anglican Church while the former husband or wife was living. Lord Buckmaster proposed a compromise restricting the prohibition to defendants in a divorce suit, Lord Sclborne and Lord Birkenhead, in supporting Lord Buckmaster, declared that the Primate’s clause would raise the whole question of the Established Church. Lord Birkenhead said that if the Church attempted to discipline the clergy who disagreed with their leaders on this subject many opponents of disestablishment might be compelled to reconsider their attitude. The Archbishop of York said that though it might mean lifting the curtain on a great drama, namely the Church versus the State, Lord Buckmaster’s compromise could not be accepted. The Primate’s clause was rejected by 51 votes to 50.

LADY ASTOR AND A DIVORCE. A BOTTOMLEY REVELATION. LONDON, May 5. (Received May 6, 8.50 pun.) Mr Horatio Bottomley has made a sensational revelation. John Bull exhibited posters in London reading “Lady Aster's Divorce.’’ Mr Bottomley’s article gives details of proceedings in 1903 in the State of Virginia, which were carried through with great secrecy. The first ground alleged Robert Gould Shaw's desertion. Subsequently a statutory ground was included in the petition. Mr Bottomley points out that in view ol; this secret divorce Lady Astor was inconsistent in her recent speech in the House of Commons on the Divorce Bill, in which she deprecated easier divorce on the ground that women in the United States had not gained anything by it. She added: “I think the world is too loose altogether. We need tightening up.” Mr Bottomley’a article describes Lady Astor as “a hypocrite of the first water.” The article "added: “Though Lady Astor is described as Mr Shaw’s widow in Burke’s Peerage and ’Who's Who,’ her first husband is still alive in New York. Members of the House of Commons loudIv cheered Lady Astor on her entering the House to-day. Mr Bottomley was sitting a few seats away.

MEMORIALS ON WAR GRAVES. PARLIAMENT'S DECISION DEBATED. LONDON, May 5. In connection with war graves deep feeling has been expressed all over the country at" the House of Commons’ decision not to permit individual memorials. In many eloquent speeches it was mentioned that there would be 4000 of these cemeteries. It would take ten years before the work of erecting a uniform pattern of tombstone would be completed. . The support of the House in this xs regarded as largely won by a powerful speech by Mr W. Burdett-Coutts urging that there should not be left among the relatives any sense of differentiation in the treatment of the dead. The speaker said that poor people were too generous to begrudge individual memorials, but the House would act for the nation so that the mourning of a woman in a tenement should not be left in any sense altogether unexpressed- 1 man had made the greatest sacrifice and had died the same death for the same cause, so why should he not have the same beautiful monument? Finally Mr BurdettCoutts won the House by urging the wishes of the dead officers who would not have had a difference imposed. That was a solemn mandate upon the country. He read a letter from Sir Eudyard Kiphng saving that the Kxplings had not any grave to* go to as their boy was missing at Loos, where the battered ground gave not the slightest trace.

MINISTRY OF SHIPPING. LOSS ON CONCRETE SHIPS. LONDON, May 1. The report on the appropriation account for 1918-1919 for the Ministry' of Shipping shows the total deficiency to have been met from a vote of credit which amounted to just over £100,000,000. The report deals at some length with the fin-ncial aspect of the building of concrete ships, and shows that after the armistice the whole policy of the construction of concrete ships was reviewed, when it was decided that it would be more economical to cancel the contracts. The tijtt»l _loss to the State was reduced to about £2,500,000.

IMPERIAL DEFENCE COMMITTEE. THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY. LONDON, May 5. (Received May 6, 8.5 p.m.) In the House of Lords, Lord Haldane asked the Government s policy as regards the Committee of Imperial Defence, and the committee’s relation to the war staffs of tho Army. Navy and Air Force. He paid a tribute to the Committee as a most efficient way of bringing the dominions into consults’ tion, Tho Committee provided a roof under which overseas Ministers could come without the slightest sense that they were sacrificing their independence. He recommended retenion of the committee as an ideal organisation for affording intercourse and co-op-eration between the Army and Navy, and as according more with the constitution of the Empire. Lord Curzon, in replying, said the Committee was an advisory one, and had no executive authority. It had thoroughly justified itself, both before and during the war. He denied that the war had found us unprepared, for our War Book was not only superior to anything existing in any other country, but the actual degree to which we were prepared for all ensuing developments exceeded that of our ablest and most scientific foes. The Defence Committee was not extinct, but the scheme of future Imperial defence must be largely suspended until all the treaties had been drawn up. The Committee's work would be co-ordinate with the British branch of the League of Nations. It would be unwise to indicate too definitely Imperial defence policy until after the weighty decisions at the forthcoming Imperial Conference.

BANK OF ENGLAND, PALATLAL BUILDING PROJECTED. LONDON, May 4. It is intended to rebuild the Bank of England seven stories high, the building being architecturally worthy of the world’s most valuable building site. Accommodation will be provided for several other large banks, thus relieving the congestion. At present it is impossible to secure an office within half a mile of the Bank. BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION. THE GUARANTEE FUND. LONDON, May 5. (Received May 6, 10.10 p.m.) At the Prince of Wales’s request the Lord Mayor is convening a meeting at Mansion House to launch the British Empire Exhibition. The Government are giving £IOO,000 to the guarantee fund.