IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 90, 25 July 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THE CIVIL LIST. THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD. "HONEYCOMBED WITH ABUSES AND PARASITES." By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright London, July 22. In committee Mr. Barnes moved a, reduction of the Civil List u: - uj j,lMM). He urged' that the revenue oi .--e Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster should be handed to the Exchequer. It was an insult to the committee's intelligence 10 tell them the Duchy of Cornwall's revenue of £92,000 should be handed to a boy of sixteen or that he could epend it. rie also declared that the Royal household was honeycombed with abuses and parasites who were fattening on the nation under the shadow of the throne. Mr. Balfour pointed out that for five hundred years funds derived from the Duchy of Cornwall had gone to the Sovereign's eldest son. Other members argued that the duchies were Crown property and never the Sovereign's private possession. The amendment was defeated by 206 to 26. Other amendments moved by Labor members were rejected by similar j=:ajorities. Mr. Keir Hardie caused a great protest by saying, that they were voting money to enable the King's children to live in luxury, ease, and idleness. Mr. Lloyd-George said this charge was the last that could be brought against the Royal family. SOVEREIGNS AND INCOME TAX. Received July 24, 5.10 p.m. London, July 23. In the House of Commons during the civil list debate the statement was made that Queen Victoria voluntarily paid income tax, and that King Edward bad continued to do so. King George was relieved of the tax, but pays the costs of his own and other people's State visits. THE REGENCY BILL. THE CORONATION OATH. Received July 24, 5.10 p.m. London, July 23. iA lively debate took place on the Regency Bill, over Sir C. J. Cory's amendment to include the declaration among the oaths taken by the Regent. It was argued that it was more important for the Regent to make the declaration than a young sovereign. Mr. Winston Churchill deprecated thrusting crudely and bluntly into the Regency Bill a declaration which the House had recently decided by an enormous majority was undesirable that any sovereign should make at the present time. The amendment was rejected by 123 votes to 25, and the Bill was read a third time.