BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 176, 30 August 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE MINERS' EIGHT HOURS ACT. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Loudon l , August 27. The Right Hon. H. J. Gladstone, Secretary of State for the Homo Depmtment, informed a deputation from the Miners' Federation of Great Britain that the sixty tiomt? clause would not b inserted in the Eight Hours Act merely to increase the working hours per day, but to ilielp matters in times of pressure. He intended to administer the Act in the same spirit as it was passed, to investigate disputes' submitted, and, if be found 'that the object of the Act had been infringed, to put matters right.

DEVELOPMENT BILL. London. August 27. In the House of Commons, Mr. LloydGeorge, Chancellor of the Exchequer introduced a Development Bill to enable the Treasury to make grants or loans for aiding the development of forestry, agriculture, rural industries, the construction and improvement of harbors and canals, and the development of lis'heries; also to constitute road boards for the construction of roads primarily confined to motor traffic to which the speed limit would not apply, or to the improvement of existing roads. Received 29, 5.5 p.m. London, August 29. The Development Bill now before Parliament provides £OOO,OOO annually for road boards, allocated from the petrol and motor taxes, also over half a million for purposes already cabled, many of which are similar to those in existence in foreign countries.. Unionist critics describe the Bill 83 electoral bribery.

THE LICENSING BILL. London, August 27. Tho Government lias amended the licensing scheme considerably. It reduces the duties on hotels, resrtaura-its, and theatres in lieu of licenses, and makes clubs pay fld in the £ on purchases instead of 3d on sales.

IRISH LAND BILL.

Received 29, 5.5 p.m. London, August 29. In the House of Commoiiß, the Irian Land Purchase Bill was taken through committee.