BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 193, 18 September 1909, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

IRISH LAND BILL. JIIS. BIRRELL SUuivuMiMSKS IU NATIONALISTS. By Cable.—Press Association—copyright London, September lu. j During the debate on the recommitted! Irish Land Biii Mr. Birrell, Chief Secretary for Ireland, speaking on the clause forbidding advances in respect of purchases oi, holdings if a tenancy is created jiftcr January, 1008;, niovfed l(o substitute September 15, 11)01).

The Nationalists threatened to abandon the Bill if Mr. Birrell persisted in his amendment.

.Mr. Birrell explained that the amendment was in accordance with a promise to the Hon. W. 11. Long. He was under the impression that the Hon. Long's suggestion would only affect a few cases, and made the promise perhaps too hastily. At any rate, if a large amount of business had been going on in bogus tenancies, je was ready to consider the position. Finally he asked leave to withdraw the amendment.

The Hon. George Wyndham asked il it was likely there would be many new tenancies' created in Hreland in eighteen months. Nationalist cries of '• Yes." The Hon. Wyndham: It is all a delusion and the Chief Secretary took fright at a false tire . .Ur. Birrell: How many do you think there are? The Hon. Wyndham: The Chief Secretary should ascertain the facts before putting down an amendment. The Rt. Hon. Campbell, commenting on Mr. BirrclPs surrender, predicted that .Mr. Birrell would never touch lower depths of humiliation. The amendment was negatived, the voting being:—For, 30; against, 197.

THE UNIONISTS' PROGRAMME. LIGHTENING THE BURDENS. Received September 17, 10.50 p.m. London, September 17. Earl Percy, in a speech at Leeds, said tiiat when the Unionists were returned to power they would lighten the burden on agriculture, organise a system of co-operation to counteract the unfair advantage the foreigner now enjoyed, and arrange a. scheme for |l<jndiing State monies at low interest for the acquisition of small holdings. ACCOMMODATION FOR WORKERS. Received September 17, 10.30 p.m, London, September 17. The Earl of Camperdown has given notice of an amendment to the Housing and Town Planning Bill to compel local authorities to see that ns fur as possible the dwelling accommodation provided under the Bill was occupied exclusively >by people liclongiug to the working classes. Heretofore many workers in large cities were unable to nbtni'i accommodation provided under the Housing of the Working Classes Act because it had been secured by business men.

LORD ROSEBERY -DEFINES HIS POSITION. "THE LIBERAL PARTY HAVE LEFT ME." COMPLETE POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE. Received September 17, 10.51) p.m. London, September 17. Lord Roscbery, in a prelaee 10 ihe authorised version of his speech, published by Humphreys of Picadillv, under (the title of "The Budget: Its Principles and Scope," remarks: "It is Qiliicult to know whether anyone who is outside politics should under any circumstances return thereto, for his reappearance iins an air of intrusion and is respited. On the other hand, there are occasions when common honor and honesty sewn to compel anyone of deep convictions not to withhold them from his countrymcn. I think the crisis in which the speech was delivered is one of this kind. It is painful for anyone to have to put himself in opposition to old friends and the party he has long been connected with. As, however, Liberal leaders liave all declared the speech wholly ineffectual and vapid, they have evidently sustained no damage from its delivery. 1 may notice, however, the allegation that I have suddenly left the Liberal party. The fact would be more accurately stated if it were said that the alleged Liberal party have left me. They have gone ahead at an alarming velocity and left me behind. I am where I was in respect of party ties five, tei, or thirteen years ago. When I severed my official connection with the party in 181)0,1 resumed complete indcpcndeni-e in political action. That independence I claim to have exercised ever since, and I propos'e to continue to exercise it—ti (Claim 1 am astonished anyone at this time of day should grudge, for there is nothing enviable or profitable about it. There is nothing to gain. Any reward, if there be one, is invisible. At every accession to the throne the old Great Seal is broken and invalidated and a new one made and utilised, giving only an authorised impression. In the same way, at every general election a new brand is made for the Liberal party; those not bearing its mark arc outside the legitimate ranks, but it does not foljtow that they do not belong to the old party and bear the old stamp."

THE DEVELOPMENT BILL. Received September 17, 10.50 p.m. London, September 17. In committee on the Development Bill, Mr. Lloyd-George accepted Lord Robert Cecil's amendment substituting for tbe advisory committee a permanent commission, independent of tlie executive; its recommendation to the Treasury to, be final if tliey decided to reject any' proposed grants, but not if they favored i tin; grants. Lord Cecil's object. was to guard against the dangers of corruption. '