THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1906, Page 3

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

[EV EI.F.CTEIU TELEGRAPH —COPY EIGHT. J [PEE PBES3 ASSOCIATION.] THE ALIENS ACT. LONDON, May 18. Tim Bill introduced by tlm Labor Party in tlm House of Commons providing for the prevention of tlm importation of aliens under contract during a labor dispute or strike, which Bill passed the House of Commons without opposition, came up yesterday in the House of Lords lor the second reading. After debate, the motion for the second rending of the Bill was rejected. the voting being 96 to 24. Archbishop Ridley, in the debate, declared that the Bill benetiltod tintrade unions, and that at that very moment tlm Government was conferring upon the trade unions unlimited powers under the Trades Disputes, placing them above the law of tlm land bv rendering their funds immune from

Lord Beauchamp said the Government proposed to treat the Bill exactly as it had done in the House of Commons—that was. it did not propose to take one side or the otherleaving the decision to the House. Lord Londoiidery declared that he was not surprised at this altitude of

"leave it to you.” The Marquis of Ripon (Lord Privy Seal) declared that the Bill was a consistent addition to the Aliens Act, Lord Lansdowno said that the Bill promoters were proposing to further load the dice, but if the Government assumed responsibility for the Bill, and would be prepared to see it amended and made workable in committee, lie would support the second reading. Lord Salisbury declared that the action—or inaction—of the Government in regard to the Bill was a parody on legislation. In the House of Commons Sir Edward Grey informed Heiiniker Heaton that the draft convention prepared by the Anglo-French Commission intends to make equitable settlement between the British and French interests in the New Hebrides. The Government was awaiting the observations of Australir. and New Zealand. Hardio, speaking on a motion of amendment, blamed the Government for not accepting Lansdowne’s offer on the Aliens Bill, and asked how long the Government intended to countenance the existence of the House of Lords. The incident, ho said, raised (he whole question of whether democracy was a reality or a show. G. Whitley referred to the rejection of the Bill as a regrettable incident. The Times, commenting on the incident, said the workers had more to fear from the steady influx of aliens in ordinary circumstances than from the temporary importation of aliens in times of emergency. The Government had deliberately weakened the operation of the Aliens Act. LONDON, May 20. The Daily News states that the rejection by the House of Lords of the Aliens Bill is the opening shot of a fierce and long awaited battle for popular rights.