THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 274, 28 December 1909, Page 2

THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

By Cable.-Press Aisoclation.-Oop7ri|M London, December 24. The official writs will be issued on Januury 10th, and unopposed returns must be in by 14tb. The first borough pollings take place on the lotu, and t«« country pollings on the lfltn, the election being practically completed by February Ist. Tho new register contains 0,221,722 voters In England and Wales', 785,520 In Scotland, ana 098,<8i in Ireland. Borough electors number 3,002,873, counties 4,054,690; owners number 040,882, occupiers 8,717,059, lodgers 275,(148, freemen 23,974, university 48,154. London, December 24.

Mr. Balfour is making satisfactory progress, and is permitted outdoors for a short while. The Daily Mail and Standard accuse the Government of sharp tactics in allowing January Bth to be announced as the date for the issue of writs, and then suddenly altering it Radical agents, say the papers, were doubtless forewarned, but the Conservatives wasted much money in useless printing and hiring of halls for eleotion eve meetings. Saturday polling will suit artisans, bat small shopkeepers will be busy. CHAMBERLAIN'S INFLUENCE.

London, December 25. AV Mr. Joseph Chamberlain's vigoraaVJ letters to Conservative Unionist c*AVJ dalles in all parts of the various aspects of the political sflJßl tion continue to be a feature o'KVfl election. AVH "LORDS IN A TRAP." '^^M London, December Mr. Lloyd-George, speaking at iflBS oily, said: "The Lords are in a fIBV When I recall the contemptuous tbIIH they said on the Welsh questionHßj am glad to think Welshmen set trap. We have caught the large ■■■ at lust." He declared that Mr. BndH made such a mess of the War OflflH that the Tory Government could itwH him no longer, and sent him to thN I India Office to help Lord tureon to J {muddle affairs in the Jhdian Empire.* I Each,- he said, has just enough i gence to know that the other is l] muddler, but neither quite enough tffl know how to do better. mhJ The Unionist newspapers coataVJ Mr. Lloyd-George's language Morley's splendid eulogy to Lord Apßa on 23rd February. AJhB Mr. Bonar Law, speaking *t .£■■■ land, said: "If you return the iHVBVJ Government, its first act willflftVH alter the fiscal system and do ASftVJ deal to remedy the evil of "wHVHI mont" He emphasised the cofIBVH between tariff reform and natiHBVH fence, and added that if BritaßßVH control of the iron and steel traSHVJ must inevitably lose the power to*vJHJ pete for shipbuilding, in which OTar* supremacy is rapidly disappearing at, the present time. f Received 27, 10.5 p.m. ' London, Dcember 27. Mr. Haldane is suffering from Inflammation of the eyes and is unable to conduct his election campaign. Mr. Asquitb and Sir E, Grey are assisting him.-

KEFOKM OF THE LORDS. < London, December 28. The Telegraph outlines a scheme ol reform for the House of Lords which it suggests would be acceptable to the Unionist leaden in both Houses. The scheme includes the reduction of the number of Peers' to one hundred and fifty, being elected by the present Peers from their number, either for life or for a session, any Peers renouncing nomination to be eligible for candidature to the Commons upon certain conditions.

London, December 27. The Telegraph further suggests that one hundred non-hereditary seats be distributed anion; the overseas dominions, representatives to be elected on a plebiscite or rote of the local legislature as the dominions decide, chambers of commerce and learned societies to nominate others, and Catholics, Nonconformists, and Jews to occupy some of the present episcopal seats.

The general impression is that Lord Rosebery inspired the Telegraph scheme. CATHOLICS' DUTY. Received 27, 11.55 p.m. London, December 27.

Archbishop Bourne and the bishops of Westminster province, in a pastorato letter, declare it is Catholics' duty to eupport only candidates securing JMt treatment to schools. The Times' Dublin correspondent •*- ports a remarkable division in the Nationalist ranks owing to the Budget >o- ' jeetions to the Redmondit» candidates and recalls the Parnell split.