Imperial Politics

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 21 February 1914, Page 5

Imperial Politics

LORD .MURRAY AND MARCONI'S. LORD LANDSDOWNE'S SCATHING CRITICISM. HIS MOTION CARRIED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright London. February If). Lord Landsdownc said there never was a more discreditable gamble on the Stock .Exchange than that connected with American Mareonis. No tribunal could be more unsuitable for investigation that the recent committee of ihe House of Commons. The,committee of the House of Lords would be small and include judicial lords. It should, investigate the investment of £21,000 of the party funds in railway stock while the Government was seeking to terminate the coal strike. More light was desirable on the £70,000 subscribed to the party funds at the time of the Coronation. Lord" Crewe said the Government was not convinced that the committee would serve any useful purpose. The Government had no* objection to the motion, but was not prepared to take the responsibility of appointing a committee. The motion was agreed to without a division. ' TWO GOVERNMENT REVERSES. London, February li). At the bye-election for South' Buckinghamshire, necessitated by the appointment of Sir C. A. Cripps (Unionist)' as a law lord, the result was:— Dupre (Unionist), 0041; Moslev (Liberal), (1714. The Bethnal Green election resulted: Wilson (Unionist). 2528; Ma sternum (Liberal), 2804; Sei.rr (Labor) 310. [Mr. Mflsterman had just been appointed Postmaster-General, and will have, to find another seat.] A BTG GAMBLE. PROFITS MOUNT TO MILLIONS. Received 20, 9.50 p.m. London. February 20. Lord Lansdowne said that after learning of Lord Murray's explanation, the Opposition came to the conclusion that it contained nothing which should deter them from asking for a committee of inquiry. The Marconi gamble had produced inordinate gains and cruel and undeserved losses. He was told •that a little knot of individuals with inside knowledge had made one and-a-half profit in two days. While the House of Commons Committee had* whitewashed the Ministers, he was not in a position to absolve Lord Murray. Lord Crewe reminded the House that if Lord Murray were placed on his trial by a committee, he would be subjected to a process which the Ministers in the House of Commons were not subpected to. The Marconi Committee was not set up to inquire into the Ministers' actions, but into the Marconi agreement. GOVERNMENT TAXATION SCHEME. Received 20, !).,"> p.m. London, February 20. Mr. Lloyd-George has announced that the Government this session would take steps to relieve local taxation and remove some of the intolerable burdens that were retarding municipal development.. UNIONISTS JUBILANT. Received 20, 9.5 p.m. London, February 20. Unionist papers are jubilant at Wilson's catpure of Bethnal Green, one of the most Radical constituencies in London. London, February 20. It is understood that Sir T. Roe will resign the Derby seat in favor of Mr. Masterman. SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. Received 20, 11.15 p.m. London, February 20. The Supplementary Estimates contail a vote of £2,500 for Somaliland in connection with the activity of the Mullah.