BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 337, 12 March 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

CIVIL SERVICE ESTIMATES. HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM. By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright London, March 10. The Civil Service Estimates amount to £66,068,102, compared with actual grants of last session of i £62,888.302. They include £14,004,077 for education, I £9,220,000 for old age pensions, [.£400,000 for a development fund, and (£40,000 for the Prince of Wales's visit to South Africa. Mr. Mingworth has been re-elected unopposed. The Unionist Peers are considering a proposal whereby when the veto resolutions reach them the Lords will suggest that they be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses, together jyith Lord Rosebery's resolutions. A GOVERNMENT MANOEUVRE. SHORT SUPPLIES ASKED FOR. STRONG CRITICISM. ,'leceived March 11, 10.45 p.m. London. March 11. . TTl£ nutticatlon of the Estimates dis-' closed that the Governmentis oplj. making provision for supplies ior six,weefci, instead of a period to cover the session, as usuai In the House of Commons, Mr. Chamberlain asked for an explanation. Mr. Uoyd George Teplied that Government v.is reverting to the practice which was iii operation before 1896, because it was desirable that the House should ■keep control over the Executive, since the Government did not deem it expedient to arm the Executive with funds which would make it practically independent of the House of Commons at a critical time. Mr. Chamberlain characterised !he plan as a shabby manoeuvre in the Government's Parliamentary name. The Government was holding office by threads, which might be snapped it any moment: and was striving to leave the greatest financial confusion behind them. 1 » Lord Hugh Cecil declared it was clear the Government intended at a later stasre of tlw session, if turned out of office, to ask the House to refuse the Crown supplies. Such a course ha I not been taken since the time of- Charles tne First. The Government was designing to wreck the Constitution at all hazarls. 'Mr. Lloyd-George replied that the Government was simply reverting to t'jie praet.,'e of Lord Salisbury's Government. Lorl Hu<jh Cecil retorted: "Under quite different circumstance';." Mr. 7 loyd-George replied that it wouM be a. Very good thing if the Opposition had mi opportunity of clearing up the difficulties thev had created. Mr. F; Smith moved the adjournment of th; House as a. protest, but the motion w,-!? rejected by 354 to 223.