BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9544, 16 July 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FINANCE BILL.

United Press Asiociation—By Electric Telegraph Copyright. Received July 15, 8.30 a.m. LONDON, July 14.

The Government's Finance Bill is still in the committee stage in the House of Commons.

During the discussion, Mr LloydGeorge, Chancellor of the Exchequer, promised to exempt from the operation of the new taxes all purely agricultural land, unless the value passes into another category, such as building. Holdings under the value of five hundred pounds' will also be exempted.

BREEZE IN THE COMMONS

UNPARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE.

Received July 15, 9.15 p.m. LONDON, July 15.

In the House of Commons during the Budget debate, Mr Lloyd-George accepted Mr W. H. Dickinson's amendment that particulars should be supplied of every case of land transfer whether or not duty due and thus give the country an up-to-date land register. Mr Prettyman, was speaking when the interruptions of Mr W. J. Thome (Labour M.P. for West Ham South) led the Earl of Wintei--ton to remark that Mr Thome was in an unfit state to participate in the debate.

Mr Thome replied: "I am as sober as you, my dear friend." The Hon. Alfred Emmott (Chairman) ordered the withdrawal of the Eari of Winterton's remark.

The Earl of Winterton said: My sincere opinion is that the member is unfit to take part in the debate, but as you rule otherwise, I withdraw the remark. Mr Emmott: "I must ask Labour members not to keep interrupting." At Mr Keir Hardie's instance, Mr Emmott asked for more than formal withdrawal of the expressions. He had not heard the Earl of Winterton say that he still thought Mr Thome unfit to take part in the debate, but understood him to withdraw the remarks. The Earl of Winterton: "No other meaning could attach to my words."

Mr Thome: "I call him a liar." (Uproar).

MrEmmott: "He has withdrawn everything." Mr Thome. "He is an absolute liar. I am as sober as any man in the House."

Mr Emmott asked Mr Thorne to withdraw the unparliamentary ex-

pression

Mr Thorne: "I will do nothing of

thakind."

Mr Emmott then suspended Mr Thome for the rest of the sitting. Mr Thome, on quitting the House, and addressing the Ear} of Winterton, said: "Now you walk out and see whether you are as sober as I am."

Mr Keir Hardie later assured Mr Emmott that Mr Thorno had not tasted liquor for a whole day He had used the words under extrema provocation. Mr Hardie appealed to the chairman to recall Mr Thome's

suspension.

The Earl of Winterton, amid cheers, said that in view of Mr Hardie's statement he was prepared to apologise to Mr Thome.

Mr Emmott said he was unable to remove the suspension under the rules of the House. Mr Dickinson's amendment was cariied by 218 to 101.