WAR DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7369, 22 January 1902, Page 2

WAR DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT.

HOSTILE AMENDMENT fIEGA-

TIVED.

GREAT SPEECH BY CHAMBER.

LAIN.

Received January 22, 8.54 a.m.

London, January 21. In the House of Commons, Mr Cawley, member for Prestwick, in a pro-Boer speech, moved his foreshadowed amendment to tne'Address-in-Reply. No Liberal leader had risen, when

The Right Hon. J. Chamberlain brilliantly replied, vindicating tbe humanity of the Government and the generals. He twitted the Radicals with urging a vigorous prosecution of the war while approving the restitution of independence of the Boers. He hoped the supporters of his Chesterfield policy would not do the country the disservice of voting with the Opposition. The war would long ago have been ended if the care of women and children had not been undertaken. Excepting Miss Hobhouse, every visitor to the concentration camps acknowledged the care and the humanity shown. "While he would not be deaf to reasonable overtures from any responsible authority, he denied that the Boers could ijow receive the terms Botha refused in March. Though the same in spirit, the details were open to modification, and the credentials of Boer representatives must be closely examined. Kruger and his entourage had lost the confidence of Boers in the field, and he was doubtful who was now able to speak in the name of all the commandoes. A solid lasting peace required that the foe must recognise it was beaten, though an unconditional surrender did not mean extermination. The severities up to the present did not equal the precedents in the Canadian rebellion. Nobody had been shot for treason. An extremely light* punishment had been awarded for treason ; and no general confiscation of property was intended. Tho people were promised equal rights and privileges, and he did not believe that the Boers were permanently alienated. The Government refused to be drawn away by weakness and vacillation, but had not withdrawn the proclamation of August 7th, and a very large measure of amnesty would be granted to military offences. Ordinary crimes would be ' punished, and others would suffer withdrawal of the franchise. The claims of the colonies who had nobly assisted to be heard in the final settlement would certainly be allowed. Despite the protests of a small section of opposition, Cape Colony was paying two hundred thousand a month towards the war, which was an enormous contribution. He concluded: "We have confidence in the affection and support of the colonies to an unprecedented degree, and mean to keep them." The speech was received with cheers.

Mr John Dillon moved an amendment on Cawley's amendment, denouncing the system of devastation in the ex-republics and the barbarian concentration camps.

This was negatived by 283 to 64. Fifty-seven Nationalists and four Radicals were included in the minority. Tbe Times says co far the Liberal attack is a sham.

The Standard says Sir H. CampbellBannerman has completely failed to re-unite the Opposition.