, 1913-11-12

In the bX-election for me nber for Reading,
consequent on the appointment of Sir Rufus
1saacs to the Lord Chief Justiceship, Cap
tai" Leslie Wilson, Unionist, who. contested
the seat at the last elections. has been re-
turned with five thousand one hundred and
forty four votes, Mr.. Gooch, the Liberal cand
date, polling four thousand nnd thirty-one,
and Mr.. Butler, the Socialist candidate, one
thousand and sixty-three. The campaign
was the hottest remembered, many parties
being active, with three hundred paid speak
ers holding one hundred meetings simulta-
neously.
MIR. Lloyd George has delivered his third
speech at Middlesborough outlining the Land
Reform scheme. He proposes a complete
national survey of housing accommodations,
and an inventory of all slums and insanitary
areas and districts without adequate tran
sit facilities. The Government will en-
power the Municipalities to acquire land
at its real market value, reform the leasehold
system and correct unjust rating assessments.
The South London, Eustou and Surrey
Music Halls closed their doors upon the
musicians walking out after the audiences
had gathered. Thirty-four Halls have accept
ed the musicians terms. The South Lon
don Hall agreed to the wage demands, but
NSOAihSA u VASAIaNA O1lOu pa l
1t is stated that the Parliamentary pro-
gramme is to take up the Home Rule Bill
first, and that it will I've passed by the ninth
OF May and become effective by the Summer
of next year.
The "Times" says that the Dublin Castle
authorities are badly informed regarding the
situation in Ulster, Mr.. Birrell, the Chief
Secretary, not keeping in touch with local
happenings.
The recent business mems anti-Home
Rule meeting at Belfast alarms the Govern
ment, and is the basis of the belief that u
compromise is unacceptable, and that the
only escape from q struggle is a general
election.
Sir George Chubb, presided at o Nom
conformist Union luncheon, at which the
Reverend William Wntkinson, ex-President
OF the Wesleyan Conference, criticised Home
Rule and eulogized Sir Edward Carson.
He also emphasized the agreement of reli-
gious and commercial opinions regarding the
threatening outlook, and twitted the Radi-
calls with sacrificing their brethren to eccle-
~siastical despotism. The English, he said,
are apathetic only because the situation has
not beeu adequately presented, and the
Non conformist press places party before
patriotism, He considered it disgraceful
that the Methods st and Baptist organs do
not admit the opinions of the Opposition.
Mr.. Redmond, he said. had the lariat about
the Governments neck and is forcing them
to toe the line, and he declared that in the
event of a crisis, the U%lstermen will have
Non conformist sympathy and support.
Mr.. Lloyd George, receiving q population
of non-militant suffragettes, said that for
the last year or two the cause had been re-
ceding through the methods of the militants
alternating women, even more than men. He
denied the suggestion that he could intro
duce a Bill with the Governments support
if he chose, such action would, he said, split
the Cabinet and the party, and lie declined
to imperil the Government programme for a
quixotic adventure on behalf of female stuff
rage. Home Rule for ireland was hopeless
until violence had been abandoned, which
should be al example for the suffragettes.
The Constitutional Sutfragists are confer
ring about totally repudiating the militants
in an effort to commit the Liberals to legis-
lalion, and it is understood the Government,
is ready to consider such a compromise.
Miss Sylvia Pankhurst says her army is
the only argument to which the Government
will listen. Mrs. Pankhurst telegraphs from
Minneapolis that the militants prefer 10
force a general election, and rely upon the
T-.~-s-k I~.~~ S~174o1 L.,