BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 335, 10 March 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

TEMPORARY BORROWING BILL. AGREED TO BY THE LORDS. SECURITY OF FREE TRADE. By Cable— Press Association.— Copyright London, March 8. In the debate in tiie House of Lords "on the Temporary Borrowing Bill Lord St. Aldwyn declared that lie did not desire the Government to introduce a, Bill in both Houses, but it should introduce a resolution in the House of Commons authorising the collection of Lord Loreburn said the Government did not agree with the proposal to split the Budget. Gladstone settled that question years ago. The financial emforoglio, he continued, was solely due to the Lords' action. The Bill was read a second and third time and passed. Mr Alfred Mond, M.P., Treasurer of Jhe Free Tiade Union, interviewed discussing the recent tariff divisions m the House of Commons, declared th\t the position of free trade as Britain s fiscal policy could no longer be regarded as secure. If Freetraders had the wisdom and courage to put free trade first, then free trade was absolutely safe. _ The Mail says that owing to the increasing protests a'gamst Government not fulfilling its intention to regularise the collection, the Commissioners of Taxes'in the citv. who collect one-flttn of'the United Kingdom's revenue, are considering the advisability of suspendin* collections. The Mail suggests that a "first readi"* of the Budget or a reflation, iconld ease the tension.

THE TWO-POWER STANDARD. THE GOVERNMENT FINANCES. TOSS THROUGH NON-COLLECTION OF TAXES. HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM. Received March 9, 10.45 p.m. London, March 9. Tn the House of Commons, Mr. A. Burgoyne asked whether the Admiralty considers th? Australian and New Zealand Dreadnoughts part oi the fleet for *he purposes of war in metropolitan waters, and included them in the calculation of the two-Power standard. Mr. McKenna replied that he was unable to answer a hypothetical question depending upon what is the strongest Power when the second of two battleshins is finished. Replying to questions. Mr. LlovdGeoree" stated the loss of revenue due to the rejection of the Budget was approximately £28.500.000. It was impossible to «av at present how much nltimitp'r would bp recovered. Lord Hush. Ocil, amidst Unionist cheers. &sk°d would have been "saved if a temporary Bill containing existing taxes had been Passed before dissolution, and an income-tax resolution agreed tn immediate!- the new Parliament met. One hundred Opposition Peers met in tho House of Lords awl apnoirtted a commlttee. with the Earl of Norfolk as oTHrman. to consider reform proposals, and +h« *tt; I >t'ie to lie adopted with p*Td to Lord Roseberv's motion, which •■will be discussed oh Monday. '? A SNAP DIVISION. HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT IN OFFICE. Received March 9. 11.15 p.m. London, March 9. . The House of Commons continued discussion on Mr. Ramsey Mac Donald's Fair Wages Bill motion, which was rejected by2ls to 150. Many Labor memhers voted against the motion or abstained from voting in oTder not to defeat the Government, while Mr. MaciDonaia refused to tell in favor of his ovn motion. The Opposition front •bench also abstained, not desiring that the Government should resign as the result of a snap division.