IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 170, 5 December 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

WEEK-END CABLE LETTERS. THE HOME RULE BILL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, December 3. Mr. Samuel, in reply to Mr. W. Redmond, said he hoped at an early date to announce cheap week-end cable letters to Australia. Clause 26 of the Home Rule Bill was passed. Mr. Hope's amendment, providing for a revision of the financial relations if the Irish revenue exceeds the expenditure in one year, was negatived. Mr. Samuel gave notice of an amendment to enable the Irish Government to use any surplus to reduce a deficit and secure an earlier revision. Mr. Balfour elicited the information that if Britain imposed extra taxation for Imperial purposes, Ireland would bear a share. Received 4, 11.30 p.m. London, December 4. There was a listless'debate on clauses 87 and 28. The former was dismissed briefly, and the latter not discussed but guillotined. The House passed Sir E. Carson's amendment to clause 27, to secure judges being appointed by the King. The Government has prepared an amendment to clause 29 to enable the Exchequer Board, in addition to the Lord Lieutenant and Secretary of State. to obtain a Privy Council decision as to whether any Irish legislation was ultra vires.

THE WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT BILL. London, December 3. The Times says that the movement among Liberal churchmen and broadminded non-conformists against disendowment has resulted in a definite agreement that the endowments, with the exception of the tithe, be left to the Welsh Church. The Times believed that the Government would accept an amendment in this direction.

TRADE UNIONISM. Received 4, 10.50 p.m. London, December 4. The committee on the Trade Union Bill refused Sir Rufus Isaacs' accepted amendment allowing trade unions to pay their Commoners. It was said that the trade unions ought to be allowed to manage their own affairs. The Conservative members supported the amendment on the ground that it would make a reversible payment to members. THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. THE FRANCHISE BLL. Received 4, 10.30 p.m. ' London, December 4. Mr. Balfour, addressing the City Primrose League, said that the Government's policy was more harmful to the House of Commons than to the Crown or to the House of Lords. After buying Irish and Welsh votes, they now designed a franchise to mitigate the country's verdict. Mr. Lloyd George, replying to the Welsh 'women's suffrage demonstration, Baid that the amendment of the Franchise Bill was less propitious than a year ago, owing to the militants antagonising public opinion.