BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8380, 14 March 1907, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

SUNDAY TRADING. Received March 13, 8.48 a.m. LONDON, March 12. The House of Lords has resolved to ask the Government to legislate against Sunday trading at the earliest opportunity. Lord Beauchamp said the subject was not ripe for settlement. Besides, the Government's hands were full of bills of first-class importance.

NEW HEBRIDES CONVENTION. Received March 13, 8.38 a.m. LONDON, March 12. Referring to the New Hebrides Convention, Mr Churchill, UnderSecretary for the Colonies, stated in the House of Commons that it had been malevolently criticised. It really only represented the skeleton of regulations about which Mr Deakin would be consulted. Permanent local regulations would then be prepared, giving effect to the Convention. LABOUR CONDITIONS CRITICISED. A HOT RETORT. Received March 13, 8.48 a.m. LONDON, March 12. ; Mr Balfour commented on the fact that the Government regarded indentured labour in South Africa as slavery, but elsewhere as social reform. 1 Sir Edward Grey, Minister for foreign Affairs, insisted that the recruiting of labour in the New Hebrides was now subject to inspection and control.

Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman hotly declared that the Government had sanctioned • nothing needing apology, excuse, or explanation. An amendment to reduce the Colonial Office vote was negatived by 283 votes to 107. ' The minority included twenty members of the Independent Labour Party. The attendance of Unionists was unusually small.