BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8359, 16 February 1907, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE BILL,

Received February 15, 11.43 p.m. LONDON, February 15. Mr W. H. Dickenson, M.P. for St. Pancras North, intends to introduce a Women's Suffrage Bill. It is reported that 400 members of the House of Commons will support the measure.

OLD-AGE PENSIONS. Received February 15, 8.17 a.m. LONDON, February 14. Mr G. N. Barnes, who represents the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow as a member of the Labour Representation Party, and who is General Secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, moved an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, expressing regret that no provision had been made for old-age pensions. The Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr H. H. Asquith, in a sympathetic reply, said he was anxious to make a beginning, but must proceed tentatively, by stages. The question was how to find the money. The Government ardently desired to start a pension scheme on lines socially and financially sound. # The President of the Local Government Board (Mr John Burns) said the matter would be taken up when means and time were allowed. Mr Austen Chamberlain, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in"the Balfour, Government, estimated that £28,000,000 would be required to establish a scheme of old-age pensions. The amendment was rejected by 213 votes to 61. '

AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT BILL.

Received February 15, 8.54 a.m. LONDON, February 14. The Chief Secretary for Ireland, Mr Birrell, has given notice of a Bill to establish an Irish Council. Received February 15, 8.17 a.m. LONDON, February 14. The Times states that the Hon. A. J. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, will move an amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Reply, emphasising the importance of tariff reform in connection with the Colonial Conference. Nearly thirty amendments to the Address have been tabled.