IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8060, 14 March 1906, Page 3

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

LIBEBAL LAND MEASURE. London, March 13. Mr Agar Robertson's Land Tenure Bill, based on the principle that tenant farmers' capital should not be liable to confiscation, was read a second time by a majority of 253. It extends, cheapens, and simplifies the law iu regard to compensation for tenants' improvements. , • ',i i The Unionist press complains that it is an attempt to initiate universal dual ownership in England and Scotlaud, THE PAYMENT OF MEMBERS. LABOR WARNING. London, March 12. Mf John Ward, M.P., speaking at Woolwich, warned the Government that the Labourites would accept excuses as to financial obstacles to the payment of members and old age pensions for one session only. THE ALIENS ACT. OPENING BRITAIN'S DOORS. Received 13,10.36 p.m. London, March 13. Questions elicited from Mr Herbert Gladstone, Secretary for Home Affairs. that he was administratively altering certain provisious of the Aliens Act. Port authorities have been instructed to give-immigrants from disturbed districtslon the Continent the benefit of any doubt of their being political refugees. Evans Gordon, protesting, announced his intention to call attention to the changes.

THE.FISCAL QUESTION. , •Received 13, 10.30 >.m. London, March 13. Mr Kitsotf J" ovcd tutlt tk ' Hous( '• recognising that U* people at the reeent election, demfltftrated their unqualified fidelity to the and practice of free trade, records its- determiuation to resist any proposal, whether to tax corn or a general tariff, to create in Britain a system of protection. He emphasised that the situation V»8 changed, the letters of the 11th storing Balfour's absolute surrender to Ckauiberlain. He quoted statistics to show the unparalleled production iu the iron and steel trade. REPLY BY MR BALFOUR. A SELF-DENYING ORDINANCE. Received 13, 1.5 a.m. London, March 13. JVoltiu Taylor, seconding the mot ion, ..showal that notwithstanding gigantic .change* in thci sources of the wheat supply, prices scarcely varied. He did ■ot believe that Imperial unity was imperilled, if they pronounced against H&My meddling with the food '„. .He hoped the union between } ' t vd Chamberlain was perfect, asYhc un> ** ° f ll du f M |7' OBly detected' *ka nK-inbcr of the system eclipsed pother, Mr Balfour pla,*"* " ttS * M lk ' Government with «i>* " U "^ discussion and picking a »l'* ill ' , ' t the Opposition. It was I V Op™* lion's busiutss to quarrel W,c .Government. He proceeded lo >** the Government respecting its *.'*"'" denying ordinance, the resolution pre-' eluding Mr Asquith for the next sixyears from introducing auy duty not adequately balanced by Excisc.and vetoing such duties as those on tobacco and eocoa.

He continued, " Does the Government mean to retain these two protective dutiesi' Money is needed for education, local taxation, the payment of members perhaps, and also increased military preparations. How arc the Government to find it without widening the basis of taxation and violating and principles mentioned in the resolution?"