BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9587, 6 September 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

GOVERNMENT MAJORITY REDUCED.

(Jmted Press Association—By Electric Telegraph CopyrightLONDON, September 3. In the House of Communs there have been exceedingly animated debates, largely between occupants of the front benches, on the new scale of liquor duties. The Government's majority in one instance fell to 78. THE LIQUOR TRADE.

MR LLOYD-GEORGE'S BILL.

TRYING THE GOVERNMENT'S STRENGTH,

Received September 5, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, September 5. Several London Libera! members vainly urged better treatment of the liquor trade, emphasising that under the old duties the County of London pays £190,000, which under the new duties will be £BOO,OOO. The Budget debase has continued till the early hours of the morning.Ministers escaped defeat on several divisions only by the abstention of the Nationalists, whose attitude had' been more than critical. The Govern • ment's majority on one division was 49. Before one division the Chief Liberal Whip crossed the floor of the House and conferred with Mr J.. Redmond (Nationalist), Yesterday afternoon, taunting the Nationalists with selling themselves too cheaply. Many Liberals are away on their holidays. Urgent messages were' despatched with a view to>securing a better attendance of the Government members next week. Opposition members stated in the course uf the debate that Mr LloydGeorge hoped that the new scheme would extinguish a number of licenses, and the fact that none of the license-holders were to be compensated is the penalty tor non-ae-ceptance of the Licensing Bill of 1908. Sir Edward Carson with the ap ■ proval of the whole of the Unionists, will move an amendment to provide compensation to license-holders upon discontinuance of business by reason of the increase in liquid duties.

A GROWING ASSUMPTION THAT THE LORDS WILL REJECT THE BUDGET. Keceived September 6, 12.30 a.m.. LONDON, September 5.™

The "Westminister Gazette" admits that there is a growing assumption that the House of Lords will reject the Budget, but is convinced that the Peers' action wil' be reluctant use of furces, the precise strength of which cannot at present be ascertained. The "Gazette" adds that the political temperature :s decidedly changeable, but Lord Lansdowne may be trusted to recommend what is the least perilous thing in all circumstances from the Unionist standpoint.