Imperial Politics

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 212, 7 March 1914, Page 5

Imperial Politics

ARMY ESTIMATES. DEFICIENCY IN INFANTRY. INCREASES IX OTHER UUAXCIIIvS. By Cable -Press Association—Copyright March 5. Mr. Peasp introduced the Plural Voting Bill, and Mr. McKcnna the Welsh Church I'ifl. A private Bill was introduced to permit women to practice as solicitors. The Army Estimates amount to ££8,845,000, including' .0,000.000 for iviation. The Civil Service EstiinaUt imount to £21,030,(150. Received 6, 10.35 p.m. London, March (i. Colonel Seely's memorandum on the ar OHiee Estimates admits there, ia a leficiency of 8000 men in the infantry, ..hough the total establishment shows an increase of" 800. This is accounted for )y the growth of the aerial wing and ncreases in garrison artillery. It ilso states that the position "oi the Territorials is improving. THE CIVIL ESTIMATES. OLD AflE PENSIONS AND INSURANCE. Till". CHANCELLOR HECKLED. Received fi. !!.?o p.m. London, Marcli fi. The estimates provide till, 141,1)1)0 for old age. pensions, and almost £!),000,300 for national insurance. The Oppositionists 'buckled Mr. Lloyd flcorge, alleging that the insurance scheme was insolvent and that the minimum 'benefits would have to be reduced. It was also alleged that the Chancellor's refusal to give information in regard to State insurance finance was due to the Government's unpreparcdness to meet popular indignation. Mr. Lloyd George, in reply, denied that the scheme of insurance was insolvent, though doubtless some approved societies were badly managed. He hoped that whatever Government was "in power it would make them bear the consequences of maladministration. Mr. Bonar Law challenged the Chancellor to direct the Chief Actuary to make a valuation. Otherwise the country would draw the conclusion that the Act was insolvent. The Government, ' he said, wished to conceal the scheme's insolvency until after the election. A motion to reduce the vote was negatived.