BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8118, 12 April 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

FROZEN MEAT FOE THE ARMY. Received April 11, 8.47 a.m. LONDON, April 10. In the House of Commons, Mr Haldane, Secretary for War, replying to Mr H. Cox, who asked if the Government intended to continue the prohibition of contractors supplying foreign frozen mutton for the army, said he was of opinion that quality and price should alone be oonsidered in dealing with the matter.,. Replying to" Mr R. Laidlaw (East Renfrewshire),' Mr Aisquitb, Chancellor of the Exchequer, promised to consider the claims of British investors in the colonies for special relief if and when it was possible to remit any portion of the income tax, but at present be was advised that it was not clear that the incidence of the tax was unfair.

THE EDUCATION BILL. Received April 11, 3.3 a.m. LONDON, April 10,

Many amendments are foreshadowed for the second reading stage of the Education Bill, whioh will be after Easter. The Nonconformists fear that the clause providing for religious instruction if four-fifths of the parents of the children desire it will be utilised largely to perpetuate denominational teaching. The Opposition will propose to lower the proportion. Mr Ramsay Macdonald, Labour member for Leicester, has eiven notice of an amendment providing for the teaching of secular subjects only within school hours in schools supported from the public funds. Churohmen regard the Bill as an unjust curtailment of religious instruction, and as disregarding parental rights. A meeting of Catholics in South London expressed astonishment and indignation at the Bill.

REPRESENTATIVE OPINJONS. Received April 11, 9.14 i 1 LONDON, April 10. Mr 0. F. Masterman, member for West Ham, says the Education Bill will rekindle religious fires. Dr. J. Clifford, the well-known Baptist minister, who led the agitation against the Bill of the Balfour Government, Is gratified with the new measure, but not satisfied. He condemns the fourfifths clause.

Archdeacon Sinclair, and the Archbishop of York, in a letter, make the best of the Bill, The Times says the Bill requires radical amendment.

The Daily News says that if ohurchmen refuse a compromise they will be given no second choice.

The Westminster Gazette and Liberal members of the House of Commons generally approve the measure.

The Manchester Guardian deolares the Bill is a thorough tolerant measure.

The Scotsman says it ought to be entitled a Bill for the State En-' dowment of Nonconformity. Mr W. T. Stead, editor of the Review of Reviews, thinks the four-fifths clause ought to meet the needs of Catholics and Jews. It will probably go hard with the Anglicans.

LOCAL OPTION

Received April 11, 10.,22 p.m. LONDOJN, April 11. In the House of Commons resolutions noting the success of looal option in the colonies and urging the adoption of the principle in Great Britain were carried by 271 votes to 44.