BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 21, 18 February 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

iPAKLIAIUiXT OI'KXKU l/indoii. February Hi. Til.' Kiii|f attended am! ope.ie.l I'mliamcnt. In ii stale speech from tinfliroiic his .Majesty aniiouueed llnu. owing to tin' ii(|(>|it'ioii of old age pen sions iiml tin- increase of tin- Navy, Ihori- would be n-a excess of expenditure during tin' coming year. This, would uW-upy serious iitti'ii'liiiii ii nil iillmv less tiirn- Unit usual for legislative measures. Tim Bills promised included tin; Irish l-uild and Welsh Disestablishment mid Discndowmont Bills, brought over from lust year; measures providing for tlie better organisation of the labor market by co-ordinate excha-nges; regulating the milk supply and housework in shops; the prevention ol sweating; n law deaiing with inebriate*; and tinOld Age Pensions Amendment Hill. OLD AGE TENSIONS. London, February 1(1. According to Mr. Tiuiiillii Davie*, a I l.ihei-al Commoner, Ibctwcen lift.v and L-evenlv thousand old age pensioner* i" Ireland liave not <pi a I ili<-<( under tieAc!, lie ili'ihwes that I lie authorities lilt, Somerset House should punish those I permitting Hie trauds. THK SI'KKCII I'KO.M TIIF. Til HUNK. A SATISFAUTOIIY (HTLOuK. Keeeived 17. llUi p.m. London, February 17. In the King's spcceli mention was made of the cordial weirome he had received ill 'Berlin, which, he said, tended to strengthen the amicable feelings essential to the mutual welfare and peace of -foreign relations. A friendly Canadian waterways treaty had been arranged, lie trusted that the arbitration over the American lishcries would elied a final and friendly settlement. 'Arbitration agreements Jiad been renewed for live years with France, Italy and Spain. He was happy to see m Tinproveu prospect oTTne solution of the Balkans trouble, and hoped thai the settlement would iie satisfactory to all. l'ersia eunseil anxiety, though there was no desire to intervene. The situation imperatively demanded representative institutions of practical form, The present troubles endangered the numerous commercial interests of Britain and ltussia. The two Uoverninents were exchanging views in respect to the question. The King made kindly reference to British sympathy and assistance to a friendly nation ill connection with the Jlessiua catastrophe. I'nriiameut, Hie King proceeded, would lutvo an opportunity to discuss the results- of the conference sitting in Loudon upon international maritime law, whieli might eiialble tlicliovernnieiit to ratify a Prize Court Convention. 1 The speech expressed deep sntisfnt--1 tion with the measures- designed to ini--1 prove tho Indian administration, and desired s-teps to be taken to give erteel to the Koyal Speech in November to the. people of India to protect the interests anil advance the welfare of all

races. The South African Conveutiun marked the first stage of consolidation. The speech announced the conclusion of the great Poor Law CoMimis-ioii. A NOBLE PAGEAN 1. Received 17, lu.U p.in. London, February 17. There was a noljlc pageant in the House of Lord-, the Queen'wearing the CuMiunn diamond. The Prince and I'l'ince-s of Wales were pre.-eiu. The King slarted. in good voile bill tired before the end. lie goes to Brighton on Friday to rid himself of traces of a cold. THE SPEECH DISOI'SSKD. The Earl of Liverpool moved, and Baron Hemphill seconded, the adoptioa of the address. Lord Lansiluwne, referring lo Persia, said that representative Government was not the panacea of all Eastern countries. The Government's proposal was equivalent to putting very old wrac in very new bottles. He was surprised that there was no reference in the address to Ireland, where a scandalous reign of terror prevailed. He referred j to the revelations regarding old ago pensions in Ireland, and twitted the Government for omitting references to the campaign against the House of Lords. The Earl of Crewe (Secretary of State for the Colonics) said the Government was no'ffusiug the Crimes Act because it was a rotten weapon. The iwsition was largely due to the Land Act, the unfortunate fruit or otherwise of a noble tree. Mr. F. E. Rogers ( member for Wilts) and Mr, W. Bonn (member of Tower Hamlets) moved and seconded the address in tlie House of Commons. Mr. A. Balfour (ex-Premier) had some misgivings about the Government's inteatiou in regard to Persia. Referring to unemployment, he warned the Government that no 'plan attempting to increase the demand for skilled labor would have a good effect. It was necessary to increase the confidence of the investing public. The Government, by rash speech and action, had driven capital abroad. The folly oif rejecting every met hod by which preference could he effected with other nations and preference obtained by Britain's own colonies was obvious to everyone not hide-bound in formulae inherited from ancient writers. Mr. Balfour incensed the Irish Nationalists, who provoked! hot by adducing statistics showing the great increase of agrarian crime in Ireland, and called upon Mr. BirreJl (Secretary of State for Ireland) to put into force (Tie Crimes Act of 1887.

THE PREMIER'S REPLY. The Premier (Mr. Asquith) said the a Hairs in Persia were exceedingly unsatisfactory. There was no prospect of improvement until the Shah kept his promise. The Government would not make a loan or otherwise support the SliVth wliile he continued his present policy. Mr. Asquith promised an enquiry into the pensions in Ireland. He dial not desire to pnliate or minimise the deplorable state of things in certain districts of Ireland, but the 'facts had not proved the administration was wi'ak. The, question of finance would largely occupy the time of the House this session. He reminded them that they could not indulge in the luxury ot social reform without paying for it. Money would have to be found by method* and from sources consistent with ju-tice and sound policy. Mr. Henderson protested against the proposed increased expenditure on the Navy. - 4*<!!lfffl Sir Edward Grey (Minister for Foreign Affairs), replying to a question, said the Government, would not take the responsibility of dictating a constitution (/> the Shah. The representations made by the British Government. had been general in character.