BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 86, 7 May 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE BUDGET DEBATE. Iteceivi'd .May ti, 11.23 p.m. London, Mnv (i, 111 the House uf Commons the I'sudgct debate was ri'fiiiineil by Air. Balfour, who presented corrected figures allowing that the Wbitebread Company (mentiuiied ou Monday) hereafter would pay .120IIU more than was distributed to ordinary shareholder*. Received Hay ti, lJ.;ii p.m. Loudon, .May tl. ill the House of Commons, Mr. j'hnip Suoudcu (Labor member) welcomed tiic Budget because it took from the rich and gave to the poor. His object was to make the poor richer and the rich poorer. There was nu oilier way under heaven whereby the poor could be made better off. Jlr As(|iiitli justified the Budget as being in accordance with free trade, and because it was adequate to meet the necessities of 11)011 ami the necessities of future years without taxing the necessaries of life. He described spirits and tobacco as luxuries or superfluities. He predicted the consolidation of licenses ami the raising of the price would ensure the stability and prosperity of the brewing industry. Mr. Austen Chamberlain severely criticised the destruction of the old sinking fund and tho increase in the incometax. Mr. C. F. Mnstenmui did not agree with Mr. Snowden that the poorer clusses should pay no tuxes. A motion to apply the closure was 'then advised and carried by 308 tt> •200, amid cries of "Resign! - " ''Withdraw Budget!" A resolution imposing tlie tea duty was voted by 332 to 17ft. TIIK AUSTRALIAN FLEET. Mr. McKenna, first Lord of the Admiral ly, informed Air. Redmond that the Commonwealth proposals for an Australian fleet were being considered. THE DEATH SENTENCE. In the Mouse of Lords, Lord Alverstone's Hill, which simply records without pronouncing the death sentence in cases of child murder by mothers when unlikely to be executed, was rend a second time by 73 to 18. CONSTRUCTION OF BALLOONS AND AEROPLANES. The Government has appointed a committee, under Lord Rnylcigh, to advise the Admiralty and War Office upon the construction of balloons and aeroplanes, 1 with funds for experiments. ' BYK-ELECTIOX. lxmdoi]. May 5. At the Stratford-on-Avou election, Mr. I*. S. Foster, n tariff reformer, was ! elected, receiving ,"i.'174 votes. Mr. Mar- ' tin, Radical, ex-Canadian, received 2747 ' votes and Mr. Kincaid Smith 470. Mr. Smith resigned and sought re-election over the policy of compulsory military ■ training, but the electoral issue was ', tariff reform and the Xavy. FIXING A SALARY. i I London, May 5. 8 The standing committee of the House of Commons, by lo votes to 13, decided, despite the (tovernmciit'K Opposition, that Parliament and not tiro Treasurj shall fix the future salary of the Pre sident of the Hoard of' Trade. Tho Rill as amended was reported in tin House, ABSURD ELECTION RESULT. t London, May 5. r The Chronicle describes the result ol ~ the Attercliffe election as an absurdity ,1 and says that Mr. Pointer was ehoser ~ by little more than a fourth of tin votes.