IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 182, 19 December 1912, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

1 THE DISESTABLISH MEXT BILL. AN ACRIMONIOUS DISCISSION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 18, 10.45 p.m. London, December 18. On the clauses dealing with church money prior to 1602 an acrimonious debate arose. 4 Lord Robert Cecil declared that often a man with the touch of hell fire on his brow gave money to the church. Mr. Booth objected to the contention that the bulk of the money came from men feeling that they had sinned. Mr. .John Ward objected to the Government's hard bargain, and opposed the secularisation of religious funds. Mt. Melvenna intimated that lie was prepared to accept two Liberal amendments leaving Queen Anne's bounty intact. This concession, involving £15,000, inflamed the Welsh Radicals, who subsequently decided to vote against the proposal. Lord Robert Cecil's amendment to appoint a committee of jurists to decide what were private beneficiaries prior to 1u62 was negatived.

CABLE RATES. Reeeived 19, 12.5 a.m. London, December 18. Mr. Samuel, in reply to a question, said that the Government would not answer Australia's request for a subsidiary conference until a reduction of the Atlantic cable rates was made. He added that further reductions were contemplated on January 1. THE INSURANCE ACT. Received 19, 12.5 a.m. London, December 17. The Insurance Act has created SB4 new officials in England, with salaries aggregating £89,000 annually. THE TARIFF. London, December 17. The Times says the Unionist leaders must not attempt to shift the onus of food taxation. If it is undesirable as a purely domestic reform, then it is not desirable at all. The Chronicle savs Mr. Bonar Law's suggestion is a palpable attempt to shift the odium of food taxes from the shoulders of the Unionists to the Dominions. PRESS COMMENT. London, December 17. The Manchester Guardian says Mr. Bonar Law's offer to Lancashire to refer British food taxes to the judgment of a body of strong overseas protectionists is a hollow mockery. The Pall Mall Gazette says the speech means the reversal of the banged* barred and bolted door policy. The I)o----minions will be treated as members of the Imperial family. The Star says Mr. Bonar Law is unwilling to allow the British to decide their food taxes, and the colonies alone are to settle Britain's fate.