BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9637, 1 November 1909, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE CANTERBURY SEAT-

fjnited Press Association-By Electric Teiegrap Copyright. LONDON, October 29. Mr Alderman F. Beonett-Gold-ney, Mayor of Canterbury, and a Unionist, threatens to oppose Mr Hen-niker-Heaton's re-election. A bitter personal quarrel exists between the two. Mr BennettGoldney invites legal proceedings to establish his assertions.

The Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, and a committee of the Cabinet considered the question of Civil servants participating in politics, and came to the conclusion tt-.nt the impartiality of the Civil Service -in politics was an essential feature of the Constitution. It w*»s decided, however, that Civil servants should be permitted to become candidates for County and Municipal Councils.

THE EFFECT OF THE BUDGET.

DECREASED DRINKING

Received October 31, 5.10 p.m. LONDON, October 30.

In the House of CommotiS the report stage in connection with the Budget has been concljded. Mr Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the Budget had had an extraordinary effect on the habits of the people. The consumption of beer had decreased. Drinking in some districts in Ireland had declined by 70 per cent., in some parts of Scotland 5C per cent, and in Glasgow 36 per cent. He now anticipates that the consumption of spirits will decrease by over 20 per cent. This, said Mr George, may mean a loss of work to a few hundred, but it will, on the other hand, bring enormously increased comforts and happiness to thousands of homes.

Mr A. Chamberlain will move the rejection of the third reading of the Budget. ______