IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 60, 20 June 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

■* ACCIDENTS IN COLLIERIES. By Cable—Presß Association—Copyright London, June 17. In the course of his statements regarding colliery accidents, Mr. Churchill showed that the proportion of fatal accidents during the years 1850 to 1855 was five per thousand; from 1896 to 1900, the proportion was iy 2 per thousand; the had not improved since 1900. THE COMING CONFERENCE. London, June 17. It is announced that the leaders of Che Government and Opposition met today and agreed to a secret conference, untrammelled by any limitation or condition. i, A BY-ELECTION. London, June 17. Mr. Campaign (Unionist) has been elected unopposed for Lewes, in place *of fiir H. Aubrey Fletcher, deceased. ' MR. JOHN BURNS' SALARY. Received June 19, 5 p.m. London, June 18. In Committee of Supply on the Local Government Board salaries, Mr. Asquith urged that Mr. John Burns should be released from his pledge not to accept an increase in salary. The Government considered the department ought to be »n an equal it - with the Board of Trade in respect of the salarv paid, He moved that the salarv be £SOOC. Mr. Lee Smith's amendment that the salary remain at £2003 was negatived by 159 votes to 13. Messrs. Byles, Loughs, and Seddon, iLabor members, advocated retrenchment instead of increases. PERSONNEL OF THE CONFERENCE. WORKING COMPROMISE HOPED FOR. Received June 10, 5 p.m. London, June 18. The parties will Ibe represented at the conference by the Premier (Mr. H. H. Asquith,), Earl Secretary of State for the Colonies), Mr. Lloyd-George (Chancellor of the Exchequer), Mr. Birrell (Secretary for Ireland), Mr. Balfour (Leader of the Opposition), and Lords ILansdowne and Cawdor. Mr. Austin Chamberlain, when the personnel of the committee was announced, expressed the hope that the presence of Mr. Birrell would prove reassuring to the Nationalists, and Lord Cawdor to the Conservatives. The committee's deliberations are expected to last three weeks. There will be no lawyers present and no chairman. The Times, discussing the conference, eays that, there being no limitation or conditions, it looks hopefully for a working compromise. Several Radicals have tabled questions to ,pin Mr. Asquith to making little or no concession.