IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 23 July 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

PRISON REFORM. Ry Cable—Press Association.—Copyright London, July 21. In the debate on the prison vote' Mr. Churchill outlined the prospective revision of the prison system. He proposes to reduce the number of first offenders gaoled, to allow a period of grace for the payment of fines, to introduce defaulters' drill for offenders between sixteen and twenty-one years who :ire not guilty of serious offences, ment for offenders under twenty-one will be restricted to a month. It had been decided that suffragettes should not be compelled to wear prison clothing or to be compulsorily searched, and other regulations would be relaxed. This also applied to passive resisters. It had been decided that solitary confinement should ■ot exceed one month except in the case of recidivists—i.e., criminals who relapsed into crime—also to encourage prisoners' aid societies. The whole system of police supervision would be suspended and the ticket-of-leave system would be terminated. *A sum of £7500 per annum" ■would !be to the rehabilitation of prisoners. THE CENSUS BILL.

London, July 21. The Census Bill* (Britain) passed the third reading in the House of Lords.

PACIFIC PHOSPHATE COMPANY.

London, July 21,

Colonel Seely, in reply to a question by Mr. Allen (Liberal member for Tottenham), said there was no information to show that the Pacific Phosphate Company obtained an Ocean Island license on false pretences. The Colonial Office took steps to safeguard Imperial and native interests in all cases. LORD KITCHENER. London, July 21. Questions are being put daily to the Premier as to the reason of Lord Kitchener not being employed in any capacity. FEEDING SCHOOL CHILDREN. London, July 21. Mr. James Parker introduced a Bill to authorise the provision of meals to school children during the vacations. • A BY-ELECTION. London, July 21. The Kirkdale by-election for the seat rendered vacant by the death of Mr. C. McArthur resulted in the election of Mr. Tyffin Taylor, Conservative. The voting was—Taylor 4268, Cameron (Labor) 3427. v PREFERENTIAL TRADE. London, July 21. On the second reading of the Appropriation Bill Mr. Balfour warned the Premier that Canada was negotiating with other countries, and would be compelled gradually to diminish the preferential advantages it now gave to the Motherland. He added that other dominions would doubtless be compelled to follow in her footsteps. In reply, Mr. Asquith said the Government would welcome inter-Imperial free trade, but that was impossible while the dominions protected their own industries. Cheap food and raw material were essential to us, and Britain would not consent to taxes which would increase their cost.

THE PRICE OF EMPIRE.

COLONIAL FISCAL FREEDOM.

Received July 22, 11.5 p.m. London, July 22,

In the House of Commons, during a Bebate on the Appropriation Bill, Mr. Asquith added that he did not comphxin of the exclusion of British goods from the oversea dominions when competing with colonial goods, "for that," he said, "is the price we gladly pay for a free and loyal Empire, which we could not have if we had continued to dictate the fiscal policy to the dominions. It is complete freedom that forms the best security for unity." THE COLONIES AND IRELAND.

Colonej Seely, 'Under-Secretary for the Colonies, in replying to Mr. J. P. Boland, said the question of the dominions keeping separate records of trade with Ireland had already been referred to the Governments of Canada and the Commonwealth. He could not say what •would be the arrangements for the discussion at the Imperial Conference.

AN INTERNATIONAL: POINT,

Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, replying to a question, said he had been approached by France regarding the Savarka incident. The points involved •were being considered.

DOUBLE -INCOME TAX. Received July 22, 10.25 p.m. London, June 22.

Mr. Lloyd-George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, replying to a deputation regarding the payment of double income tax, said the concession would make a tremendous inroad on the treasury. The whole question was whether the Motherland could surrender the tax till arrangements were concluded. He thought it lard that England should be asked to surrender her right after maintaining the possibility of an understanding with New Zealand and India. Mr. Lloyd-George suggested that arrangements might be made in respect to the matter at the Imperial Conference. BRAZILIAN PREFERENCE TO UNITED STATES. Received July 23, 0.30 a.m. London, July 22. Mr. McKinnon Wood, in reply to Mr. Hamilton Henn, admitted that Brazil

had given the United States on goods including watches, rubber manufactures, furniture, flour, condensed' milk, paints, and varnishes a preference of twenty per centum over Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium.