CHINA'S PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1018, 6 January 1911, Page 8

CHINA'S PARLIAMENT.

, THE ALTERED PLANS. "Within three years China is to hove a Parliament on tho. Western model. That is the decision of the Government, which has its hand forced by popular ' opinion, as expressed in tho Provincial ; Assemblies and the .National Assembly," 1 says the' "Daily News." "In 1907 the iate Dowager Empress is- | sued an edict outlining a series of stops by which was to advance in nine years to a constitutional system more or Jess on tho "Western model. The two j most important of those stages were the establishment of Provincial, Assemblies and of a National Assembly. The Provincial Assemblies met last autumn. They are elected bodies, chosen by a ,'silk-clad' electorate of officials., notables, and men of learning. They took in hand forthwith the control ot the absolute authority of the provincial governors and tho reform of local administration. "Every Western observer who has had the opportunity of watching these bodies at worlc speaks in the highest praise of their zeal, their sobriety, their capacity for business, and their determination to do what within them lies for the regeneration of their country. The resolution with which they have stomped' out the opium habit is'only one illustration oi their' quality. "The National Assembly met at Peking on October 3. It is a body of '200 members. One-half are nominated by the central Government to' reprefimit certain privileged classes, such as the Royal clan, the Manchus',' the officials, and the scholars; the other half, are nominated by the provincial governors from among members of the Provincial A_ssemblies. The composition of the National Assembly was plainly intended to secure the central Government against any unpleasantness, and the edict constituting the National Assembly laid down that 'the law iitaking power must absolutely and for ever be the Derogative of the Emperor/ The National Assembly is a pnrely advisory and consultative body. • It can discuss, but has no control; oyer, finances, legislation, or .adraivistratipn. "According to the original scheme, t.he National Assembly-was not to-give way to a Parliament for another.seven years. This period is now. reduced to threo under irresistible pressure, and a?ninst the desire of the Regent. In .Tanurvry and July the Provincial Assemblies sent. delegates, to Peking urging that the summoning of a Parliament should bo hastened, but the Regent dismissed them with a contemptuous refusal. "In September of last year a third deputation "arrived. Its took, up their stand outside tho Regent's-Palace; and declared tHat they would stay there

until they received a favourable reply. Some of them arc said even to have cm: oft' their finger joints and. written their appeal with their own blood. The Regent at last gave them a more favourable, but general, reply. II remained for the National Assembly to oitract «omet7iing more precise. !Cut the unanimous vote of it's members of nil classes, the National Assembly demanded the > summoning of » Parliament with the minimum possible delay. The edict sincc published is the Regent's response/'