BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9991, 10 March 1910, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FREE TRADE POLICY. NO LONGER SECURE. United ressAssociation—By Electric Tleegraph Copyright. Received March 9, 9 a.m. LONDON, March 9. Mr Alfred Mond, M P., and treasurer of the Free Trade Union, has been interviewed. D'scussir.g the recent tariff divisions in the House of Commons, he declared that the position of Free Trade aa Britain's fiscal policy could no longer be regarded as secure. If Freetraders had wisdom and courage they would put Free Trade first; then Free Trade would be absolutely safe.

THE FINANCIAL EMBROGLIO. "DUE SOLELY TO HOUSE OF LORDS ACTION." Keceivcd March 9, 8.55 a.m. LONDON, March 8. During the debate in the House ot Lords on the temporary Borrowing Bill Lord St. Aldwyn, Uninnist, declared that he did not desire the Government to introduce a Bill in both Houses, but it should introduce a resolution in the House of Commons authorising the collection of taxes. Lord Loreburn, . Lord Chancellor, said the Government did not agree to the proposal to split the Budget. The late Mr Gladstone had settled that question years ago. The financial embroglio wa? solely due to the House of Lords' action. Bill was read a second and a third time, and passed. INCREASING PROTESTS. Received March 9, 9 a.m. LONDON, March 8. Tie "Daily Mail" says that owing to increasing protests against the Government not fulfilling its intention to regularise the collection of taxes, the Compiissnoner of Taxes in j the city, who collect one-fifth of the Kingdom's revenue, are considering the advisability of suspending collections. The "Mail" suggests that a first reading of the Budget or a resolution would ease the tension.

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NAVY. ENORMOUS LOSS OF REVENUE. IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY HOW MUCH WILL BE RECOVERED. Received March 9, 10.45 p,m. LONDON, March 9. In the Commons Mr A. Burgoyne askei whether the Admiralty considered that the Australian and New Zealand Dreadnoughts were part of the fleet for purposes of war in metropolitan waters, and if they had included them in the calculation of a two-power standard. Mr McKenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, replied that he was unable to answer a hypothetical question depending upon what is the strongest power when the second of two battleships is finished. Replying to questions Mr LloydGeorge. Chancellor of the Exchequer, stated that the loss of revenue due to the rejection of the Budget, was, approximately £2,850,000. It was impossible to say at present how much would ultimately be recovered.Lord Hugh Cecil', amidst Unionist cheers, asked what would have been saved if a temporary Bill continuing the existing taxes had been passed beiore the dissolution, and the income tax resolution agreed to immediately the new Parliament met. A hundred Opposition Peers met in the House of Lords and appointed a committee, with the Earl ot Norfolk chairman, to consider the reform proposals, and the attitude to be adopted in regard to Lord Rosebiiry's motion, which will be discussed on Monday