CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Feilding Star, 16 May 1907, Page 2

CABLE NEWS. BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

£BT IIiBOTBIC TELKGBAPH — COPYRIGHT J [PBH PBIfIS ASSOCIATION.] THE CONFERENCE. (Received May 16th, 8.59 a.m.) London, May 16. Mr Asquith, in the House of Commons after a discussion on Preference, said the Premiers and the Government, had agreed to differ, and he thought they were better friends than ever. Britain would be mad to interfere with the Colonies in the full exercise of fiscal autonomy, while the colonies would be acting like fools in flying in the teeth of their own economic system if they allowed the British manufacturers to undermine their native industries. BRITISH BY-ELECTION. The vacancy created by the resignation of Mr C. E. Hambro, Conservative member for Surrey, Wimbledon Division in the House of Commons, has been filled by the election of Mr Henry Chaplin (Conservative) by 10,263 votes, against 3299 polled by Mr Russell (Liberal and women's sufragist). SLIGHT TO NEWFOUNDLAND. Lord Elgin has informed Sir R. Bond, Premier of Newfoundland, that he was unable to assist Newfoundland in their fishery difficulties. It is reported that Sir R. Bond angrily reproved the British Government for neglecting Newfoundland, and said that it was for the sake of American industries. It was a gross humiliation, he added, to the colony, which was not powerful enough to give effect to Hb resentment. The Premiers sympathise with the Newfoundland Premier. HOME RULE. Sir T. Esmonde declares that the Nationalists must accept Mr Birrell's Bill or a rupture in the alliance with the Liberals is certain. Many Ministerialists fear a fiasco, owing to the powerful Irish clerical influence against the lay control of their schools. IRISH APPOINTMENT. Mr T. W. Russell, member of the House of Commons for Tyrone South, will succeed Sir Horace Plunkett as vice-president of the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. [Mr Russell has sat in the House of Commons since 1886. He was Parliamentary Secretary of the Local Government Board in 1895-1900. He 'advocated a large scheme of Irish land purchase at the general election.] AUSTRALIAN MAIL SYNDICATE. The syndicate which has contracted to build steamers and carry the mails between Australia and the Old Country has informed the Commonwealth Government, which demanded an increase in the deposit on the ground of delay in proceeding with the arrangements for the mail service, that it is within it 3 rights under the contract.