IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 321, 10 July 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

GOVERNMENT AND THE SINGLE TAX By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 9, 9.25 p.m. London, July 9. In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith, in reply to questions, said that Sir. Lloyd George, with his approval, had formed an unofficial committee to investigate land reform. The Government will be responsible for any ultimate proposals. The Government was not pledged to the single tax. Mr. R. Baker asked why the by-elec-tions should be fought on the single tax issue unless it was the Government's policy. Mr. Asquith: That does not rest with me. Mr. Lloyd George, in a speech at Woodford, said that his views on the land question were shared by his colleagues. Perhaps it was picturesque to Bay that the land was shackled with the chains of feudalism, but it was not inaccurate.

THE FRANCHISE BILL. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. Received 9, 11.45 p.m. London, July 9. In the House of Commons Mr. L. V. Harcourt, moving the second reading of the Franchise Bill, said that he considered that one-vote-one-value was a necessary corollary to one-man-one-vote. The Government intended to pass both with a redistribution before the next election. He did not think that the House was prepared at the present moment to add 10,500,000 women to the electorates. Mr. Prettyman moved an Opposition amendment opposing a measure on whose most important aspect, namely female suffrage, the Government admittedly was not agreed, and which left most glaring electoral inequalities unremedied. The Bill, he said, was framed solely in the interests of one party. Clauses ought to fie inserted enacting that the Bill should be inoperative until the Redistribution Bill was passed. Other Unionists described the Bill as tricky, incomplete and unworkable, and mere jerrymandering. Mr. Markhara spoke, desiring the abolition of "plural voting, but said that he •was also a suffragist. The Bill was a positive insult to educated women who were excluded, while admitting three million men who never ought to vote. Mr. J. Pease warmly resented Mr. Findlay's argument regarding University representation. He said that the Government was influenced by mean and petty motives. The debate was adjourned.