BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 319, 18 January 1908, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

IRISH PARTY'S LEADER. London, January lfl. The Irish National Directory has reelected Mr John Redmond president, THE BOARD OF TRADB. London, January lfl. Unless tfie Government will iidicate its intention to raise the portfolio «f Secretary of the Hoard of Trade te the status of the other State Secretaryships, (r)ie matter is to be made the subject of an amendment to the Address-in-Reply In tlie coming session. OLD-AGE PENSIONS, Received Jan. 17, 11.45 p.m. London, January 17. Mr. &nowden, the La&or Commoner, in an Interview, severely criticised the Right lion. Mr. Asquith'e old-age pensions forecast. He feared that the intention was to cast a portion ef tfco ■ hordes Upon the local rates. This would meat the retention of the stigma attaching to the poor law relief. Tke liberals explain, he said, that a part of the cost should be derived from fates in return for the relief which pensions afford. Tlie Conservatives foresee that a further tax on the necessaries of Ufa is an infringement of Cobdentsm.

(THE FISCAL CONTROVERSY. : Received Jan. 17, 11.45 p.m. London, January 17. lard Stanley, speaking at Preston, claimed that those advocating Mr. Bat' four's policy ought not to be daunted by the epithet of "Protectionist." "Nothing could ever induce me to pledge myself to any single tax, any sort of tax, or preference until I know what we would get in return. On the other hand, nothing would induce me to pledge my* self to oppose any tax if I thought upon ifis imposition we would receive as much as, if not more than, we had surrendered." 1 . . 1