BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8409, 25 April 1907, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

PREFERENCE. Received April 24, 8.1 a.m. LONDON, April 23. In the House of Commons, in the course of the Budget debate, Mr Asquith, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that while the entire proceeds of direct taxation went to the Exchequer, under the system of tariffs much of the benefit went into the pockets of favoured interests. It was impossible to do justice between the parts of the Empire unless preference in food was supplemented with preference in raw material.

TERRITORIAL FORCES BILL. Received April 25, 12.40 a.m. LONDON, April 24. In the House of Commons, Mr R. B. Haldane's Territorial Forces Bill was read a second time by a large majority. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, in reply to Mr H. Cox, M.P. for Preston, said that Britain's obligation to defend the whole of the Empire is independent of any written agreement or treaty. Judging from past experience there seems no doubt but that the colonies recognise their obligation to assist in the defence of the Empire as a whole. Receive] April 25, 1.37 a.m. LONDON, April 24. Mr Haldane remarked in connection with the Territorial Forces Bill that he hoped to carry out the reconstruction of fortresses without hurry before it comes to war, and before the fortresses were required.