BRITAIN'S PART.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15463, 16 December 1915, Page 7

BRITAIN'S PART.

THE LIFE OF PARLIAMENT. THE GOVERNMENT ATTACKED PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. FIXE SPEECH BY MR BOXAR LAW. (By Cab!-.—PteSa Aasoeiafion.—Copyright.) (Received December loth, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 14. In the Hoqsc of Commons, Mr \V. 11. t'-owan (Liberal) moved the rejection of the Bili extending the* life of Parliament. 11 o .said the Government had not .shown by their conduct of tho'wnr that thry were worthy to continue in the confidence of the country. They had failed both in their diplomacy and their war operations.

Mr Bonar Law said if tho Coalition Government, was to continue, an attempt should be. mado to carry on the war with a united people. That was ft clear caso for a compromise, and the compromise—'such as it Was—of extending the life of Parliament, was his own proposal. Ho thought Unionists should bo nroud oF the part they had played since tho war started. He hoped that no ono in future would say that their parly had sacrificed national interests for party ends. If he found that his party hud lost confidence in him ns a member of the Government he would instantly leave tho Cabinet. Mr Bonar Law added:—''Wo hare not forgotten party interests. When the time comes Wo shall do our utmost to prevent tho Plural Voting Bill from passing. I can conceive that cireum* stances may arise which will necessitate our leaving tho Government, but our party could not make a greater mistako than to, quarrel now on this issue." Mr Ronald McNeill (Unionist) said Mr Asquith had exploited Mr Bonar Law's patriotism, and was now achiex*ing a mean, despicable triumph. Ho proceeded to hotly attack the Government, but tho Speaker intervened and said Mr McNeill ought to move a vote of censure. „

Mr J. Dillon (Nationalist) paid a warm tributo to Mr Bonar Law. Ho said he had not thought him capable of such a lofty speech.

Mr E. G. Hemnicrde (Liberal) said the Government had done extremely well under difficult circumstances. The small talkativo groups below tho gangway did not represent the view 6 of Liberals.

Mr Asquith said that when an appropriate timo came, ho was prepared to join issuo with tho Government's critics, but at the present time such a course would bo detrimental to the interests of the country and the prosecution of tho war. Ho and his colleagues did not desire to shroud themselves behind a veil of secrecy. Ho would liko nothing better than to take tho full Hou«.c into his full confidence. If ho sat still under implications which could be easily refuted and blown into the air, it was not because the Government's case was weak, but because selfrestraint and reticence were their bounden duty as tho trustees of the national interests. An election in January would bo a national calamity. The Bill was read a second time.

UNIONIST OBJECTIONS. LONDON. December 14. Sixty Unionist members of tho Houso of Commons mot and objected to n year's extension of tho life of Parliament *w bamg too long. Thev condemned the preservation of the' Plural Voting Bill. Tho Parliament and Registration Bill is certain to bs opnoocd