IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Evening Star, Issue 13047, 15 February 1907, Page 6

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. A FEMALE DEMONSTRATION. ENCOUNTER WITH THE POLICE.. LONDON, February 14. At a great women’s convention held in the Carton Hall, Westminster, profound indignation was expressed that no allusion was made in the King’s Speech to the women’s suffrage question. The, meeting demanded that the House of Commons should give precedence to tho question. Eight hundred “suffragettes.” headed by Airs Despard, marched to the House of Commons to present tho resolution to Sir Henry Campbell - Bannerman, singing ‘Glory hallelujah.’ The police tried to disperse tho procession near Westminster Abbey, but the bulk of the “ suffragettes ” contrived to reach the entrance-to Parliament, and clamorously demanded to see the Prime Minister. After much uproar and many skirmishes with tho police, fifty-eight, including Mesdamoo Despard, Christabel, and Sylvia ParkLouse, were arrested. A dozen forced tbe;r way into tho central lobby, and wcre-carricd out, despito their fierce resistance. During tho struggle outside tire mounted poHco nearly rode down several. 'IMF. NEW HEBRIDES. STATEMENT BY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY. LONDON, February 14. Sir E. Grey (Foreign Secretary) resumed the debate on the Addrcss-in-Roply. He said that the New Hebrides Convention deliberately contemplated subsequent modifications as tho result of experience. It was a great improvement on the previous state of things. It must be remembered that tho proportion of French settlors was two-thirds to one-third of British. Since it was impossible to secure-exclusive British possession of tho islands, tho best possible bargain was made. If partition woe mooted it was by no moans certain that wo would get tho host of the bargain. At a time when British interests had been unduly depressed in the New Hebrides by the high protective duties imposed by the colonies, while the French granted more liberal treatment, the fear of outside complications induced Great Britain to propose a joint protectorate. continuing the negotiations at leisure. France declined this for good reasons, and therefore the best course was to ratify the Convention, deferring further amendments until a Later stage. Sir E. Grey declared that it would have been criminal had the Government not roenlated tho labor supply. A step forward had been taken, but the working of tho system must bo carefully watched, and if abuses were discovered Prance would be approached with a view to their amendment. AIR BALFOUR’S AAIENDMENT. LONDON, February 14. (Received February 15, at 8.17 a-m.) ‘Tho Times’ states that Mr Balfour will move au amendment to the Address emphasising tbo importance of tariff reform. In connection with th© Colonial Conference, nearly thirty amendments to the. Address had been tabled. OLD AGE PENSIONS. FIRST AAIENDMENT REJECTED. LONDON, February 14. Afr J. N. Barnes, Labor member for Glasgow, moved an amendment regretting that no provision had been made lor old age pensions. Air Asquith. in the course of a sympathetic reply, said the Government were anxious to make a beginning, but they must proceed tentatively by stages. The question was how to find the money. The Government ardently desired to start a pension scheme on lines socially and financially sound. Air Barns, President of the Local Government Board, said the matter would bo taken np when means and time allowed. Air Austen Chamberlain, ex-Cbancellor of the Exchequer, estimated that £28.000.000 would be required. The amendment was rejected bv 213 to 61. A FEMALE SUFFRAGE AMENDMENT. LONDON, February 14. (Received February 15, at 8.54 a.in-) Air Keir Hardie has given notice of a suffragette amendment to tho Address-in-Reply. THE POLICE CONDEMNED. THE SUFFRAGETTES PREFER PRISON. LONDON, February 14. (Received February 15, at 8.45 a.m.) The ‘ Tribune,’ the ‘ Chronicle,’ and the ‘Daily News’ all complain-of the brutality of tho police in connection with the women’s demonstration. The mounted police arc especially singled out for condemnation. The suffragettes belonged to tho Women’s Social and Political Union, who were not invited to Saturday’s demonstration lest they should alienate many opponents by their extreme methods. Airs Despard was fined 40s or twenty-one days, and the others 10s nr a week to 2C!s or a fortnight’s imprisonment. All the fifty-eight went to prison. A man was fined 20s for attempting to rescue his wife. AN IRISH COUNCIL. LONDON, Febmaiy 14. Air Augustine Birred. Secretary for Ireland. has given notice of a Bill to establish an Irish Council. THE LABOR PARTY IN 1906. [From Orn Special Co n r. e sro ndest . ] LONDON, January 6. The most vita! element in British politics during the past year has been the Labor party. Tltey only came into being at the lust General Election, but their political influence has been tho outstanding feature of the first session of the new Parliament. The largo section of tho public which had known nothing of the inner history of the Labor movement has been astonished at the intellectual calibre and the high level of culture displayed by the representatives of the Independent Labor party in the House of Commons. Twentysix out of these thirty members are new members, but they bavo-coroe through their first session with flying colors. While Liberals and Conservatives have been wrangling for ten months of the year on tbo vexed question-.of religious instruction in schools, with how little result the world knows, the Labor party have concentrated their energies-on the work of industrial and social reform, and the three measures for which hey were responsible—tlie Trades Disputes Bill, tho Workmen’s Compensation Bill, and the Childrenls Free Meals Bill—passed tho-Lords virtually untouched. This was a groat triumph for Labor, for it was obvious that all these measures were ohnosdons-to tbo members of tlie hereditary Chamber. Each Bill in tarn was violently denounced in House, but each, for tactical roasdns, was allowed to pass, for the. Londs realised that the rejection of tbeoe-raeosares would haye-set a great mass ottb&body politic in open-agitation against the hereditary principle of tho House of Lords. On the other hand, the Liberal Government suffered defeat at the hands of tho Lords over their two principal measures—tlie Education Bill and the Plural Voting Bill —both of which the Upper House could afford to reject without fear of arousing the proletariat. So tho Labor party have come through the first year with a much more satisfactory record than the Government party. Up to a point the latter have sympathised with tlie aspirations of tho Labor members, and assisted them in carrying oat-. fbeir- objects. This.’altitude. of -sympathy”

is duly recognised by the organs of Labor opinion, although they realise quite clearly that Liberalism and Socialism represent in the long run a complete divergence of Weals. “Parliament,” says the ‘Labor Leader.’ “has shown a more favorable, or at least a more amenable, mood towards Libor and social reform than was generally expected. Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-nerman has. all things considered, displayed an honorable, and. we believe, a sincere regard for the obligations of his party toward Labor measures, and has held his 'reactionary followers in rein. -We would bo churlish did wo not acknowledge that. And wo also frankly acknowledge tho general support that many Radicals in tbo liberal party gave our Labor proposals, oven when their own party obligations made it difficult for them to do so.” Altogether the Labor party have more to congratulate themselves upon at tbo close of this year’s Parliament than eillier of the two great capitalistic parties.