CABLE NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 198, 22 February 1907, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

BRITISH POLITICS. [BY ELEOTBIO TBL33BAPH— COPYRIGHT.] [PEB PBEBB ASSOCIATION.] London, February 20. In -the Commons Mr Hill's amendment was negatived by 363 to 98. Mr Baifour, in supporting it, addressed himself practically to the rncints of the amendment. He said Government should enter the conference with an open mind. He asked how did they mean to keep intact the bonds uniting the Motherland and the colonies? A zollvtrein was impossible, and an Imperial Council impracticable. Meanwhile the colonies merely asked us to make a beginning with our present fiscal system. He believed that fiscal and industrial itcessities would compel us to widen the basis of taxation and utilise the proceeds in order to gain admittance to foreign markets, meet the needs of the poorer classes, and ■secure a preferential basis and closer connection with the colonies. Sir Gilbert Parker urged a shilling registration tax on corn. Thw would give. Australia and Canada all the advantage they needed. He declared that Mr Mac Donald's statement that Australia was going to prevent the export of raw material was the m.ist monstrous traversty of labour principles ever heard of. If Australian labour people meant that, and he did not believe they did, then the Australian's doom was certain. Production of raw material was the only production which could possibly give work to workers. Mr Macdonald's argument was absolute" ly contrary to all the principles of labour. They knew as well as anything that Australia should not put aii export tax on anything she produced. He. instanced the United States under whose constitution it was impossible to do so, democracy knowing its whole salvation was dependent on the products of the soil. Australian wool commandad our markets and did not need preference, but Australian development lay in the direction of dairy products, and si oner or later the Motherland would . accept a policy of preference, no mattor now small, as a basis of larger prosperity and a healtFHer condition of tlio trado of the Empire. Mr Lloyd George emphasised tho value of foreign trade and warned Dig House of the danger of imperilling it by any thin end of the wedge leading to protection. He said the amendment had been introduced for the purpose of converting Mr Balfour, whom he congratulated on his ingenuity in evading tariff reformers' srares. (Received February 22nd, 7.60 a.m.) London, February 21. Mr Will Thome's amendment to the Address, regretting that the question of the unemployed was not mentioned in the Speech from the Throne, was rejected by 207 to 47, Mr Burns protesting against the attempt to add a link to the pauperising chain. The Address was then agreed to. Mr Birrell, in reply to a question, stated that the In3pector-6eneral of Constabulary reported up to January 31st that there had been ten cases of serious boycotting in Ireland and 38 minor cases, or attempts to boycott. The London Times complains that Mr A. J. Balfour is merely negatively declaring himself opposed to high protective duties on foodstuffs. By not speaking clearly in relation to preference, Mr Balfour exposed himself to the raillery of his opponents. Mr Lloyd George, speaking to Mr Hills' amendment, denied that the colonies needed our preference. (Received February 21st, 8.66 a.m.) London, February 21. The Butter Bill comes into operation on Janury lst ? 1908. In the House of Commons, Sir Charles Dilke introduced a Bill providing single franchise for the election of men and women of full age, whether single or married. It also provides that there shall be no disqualification as to sex or marriage when voting for members of Parliament or any public function.