BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7983, 12 March 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

MINERS' EIGHT HOURS BILL.

LONDON, March 9. Mr Keir Hardie baa obtained the adhesion°of the bulk of the Labour members. The nromotors of the Miners' Eight Hours Bill propose to make a miners' working day nine hours immediately, eight and a Half hours next year, and eight hours in 1908. The Government has promised to support the second reading of tbo Bill, and to then consider what fur- [ ther attitude shall be adopted in regard to the measure. DECIDED TO ABSTAIN. LONDON, Maroh 9. Many of the Nationalists and other members have deoided to abstain from alcohol while the Houoe is sitting. THE COMMONWEALTH'S SENTIMENTS. APPRECIATED BY THE KING. LONDON, March 9. Lord Elgin, Secretary of State tor the Colonies, in a despatch to Lord Northoote, Governor-General of the Commonwealth, states that the Federal House of Representatives' address and the Senate's resolution in favour of Home Rule had been submitted to His Majesty the King, who highly appreciated the loyal sentiments contained therein. SUNDAY OBSERVANCE. THE SHOPPING QUESTION. Received March 11, 4.43 p.m. LONDON, Maroh 10. The House of Lords agreed tuLord Avebury's resolution affirming thai the question of Sunday shopping should demand the serious attention of the Government. Lord Iweedmoutb agreed to refer the subject to a Joint Committee of the Legislature. The Archbishop of Canterbury is presiding over a National Conference, convened of the different religious bodies dealing with the whole subjeot of Sunday observance. THE UNIONIST FREETRADERS. Received March 11, 4.43 p.m. LONDON, Maroh 10. Lord Robert Cecil, in a letter to the press in reference to a resolution recently adoptpd by the Unionist Freetrade Club says he believes that Mr Balfour is not pledged to taxation on food or a general tariff, and that those opposed to other proposals still consider themselves his followers. He hopes that this is not inconsiateutwith cha membership of the Club. The Duke of Devonshire has replied that the resolution simply reaffirmed strong opposition to either proposal, and that all those opposed to the proposals may rightly oontinue their membership of* the Club, irrespective of their views and their exact effeot in regard to Mr Balfour's declaration.