BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8131, 4 May 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

DEBATE ON THE BUDGET. LONDON May 2. In the course of his Budget speech, Mr Asquith annouaoed that the reduation in the tea duty would begin on May 34tn, not in July. The maximum loss to the Treasury through the change would not exceed £20,000. Replying to a question by Mr Redmond, leader of the Nationalists, Mr Asquith promised that he would shortly carefully investigate the financial relations between Britain and Ireland. Mr Balfour insisted that great naval or military works were never constructed pxcept by loan. Mr Chamberlain considered Mr Asquith bad introduced virtually a Unionist Budget, since the surplus, the Estimates, and the decision to abolish the coal tax were all theirs. He maintained tbat the reduction on tea was insufficient to benefit consumers. He warned the Government not to be too sanguine that it would esoape unexpected calls, since the disturbances in Natal and the difficulties in Egypt loomed ahead. The Budget resolutions were passed. PLURAL VOTING. Reoeived May 3, 11.26 p.m. LONDON, May 3. A Bill abolishing plural voting was read for a first time by 327 votes to 66 votes. BRITISH SHIPPING. Reoeived May 3, 11.26 p.m. LONDON, May 3. Sir Henry Campbell-Banaerraan has appoinied a committee to investigate the question of a national guarantee for British shipping in war time.