BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 190, 1 August 1908, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCE POLICY. London, July 30. In the House of Lords, during the discussion on thu Finance Bill, Lord Oldwyn said he attributed the low price of consols to the Government's attack on property. Ho complained that the Goverumuiit displayed no financial foresight or prudence. Earl Crewe said the Government thought the indirect taxation was quite able to pay for its defensive services without any melodramatic taxation.

The Bill was read a second time. THE UNEMPLOYED QUESTION. London, July 30. During a discussion on the administration of the Local Government Board several Labor members urged the removal of the stringent conditions governing the expenditure of the vote of £200,000 for the unemployed owing to Hie expectation of an unusually distressing winter. Mr. John Burns, President of -the Local Government Board, said hj" did not bulieve in the gloomy forecast. He declared it was impossible to administer the vote for the unemployed so as to satisfy sentimentalists, but subject to the rules of good finance, he promised to throw all possible work into the winter months. He expected that the report of the Royal Commission on the Poor Law would li« ready in November. If the report were as revolutionary as some expected, he fenred it would do as much harm as good.

MISCELLANEOUS BILLS. Received 31, 11.50 p.m. London, July 81. In the House of Commons, tlie Appropriation Hill was lVail a second time after a discursive debate, embracing tlie conduct of public business in the Commons, the conditions of Ireland, the Congo, and other questions. In »c House of Lords, the Old Age Pensions Bill, the Finance Bill, and the Irish Universities Bill were read a third time. Lord Killinan's amendment to the Universities Bill in the direction of reinserting permission to privately erect a elmpel in the precincts of tlie University or College, was seconded by Lord La'nsdowne and carried by 32 to 31. The Government was reminded that the measure was purely denominational.