CHINESE NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7399, 27 February 1902, Page 2

CHINESE NEWS.

GERMANY EXAGGERATES HER * LOSSES. GERMAN POLICY IN REGARD TO SHANTUNG. Received February 27, 9.10 a.m. London, February 26. Germany is seeking to recover ten million taels for losses beyond her original claim. * Colonel Hay, U.S. Secretary for State, proposes a pro rata reduotion by the other Powers, with a view to- the Chinese indemnity not exceeding four hundred and fifty million taels. The Berlin official Press states that Germany intends to maintain the parity of the position in the Shanghai and Yang-tze valleys, and therefore will re1 tain a garrison at Shanghai indefinitely. Tbe New York Timeß declares that Germany's procedure in Shantung resembles that of Russia in Manchuria, ana cornea within the spirit of Colonel Hay's protest,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

?HE HOURS OF LABOUR OF RAILWAY SERVANTS. SNATCH VICTORY FOR THE -4OPPOSITION. Received February 27, 9.38 a.m. London, February 26. Id the House of Commons, Captain Morton, Liberal member for Newington West, moved that half yearly returns be made of cases where the hours worked by railway servants are beyond twelve hours a day ; also of cases where men resume work at less than nine hours interval. Mr Richard Bell, Labour member for Derby, v formerly of the Railway Employees' Association, in seconding the resolution, cited statistics showing the relation of overwork to fatal accidents. The House' favored the resolution. ' Mr Jackson, Conservative member for Leeds North, and chairman of the Groat Northern Railway Company, -, opposed the motion, on the ground that " - the returns asked for would entail immense labour and expense on the railway companies. The Right Hon. Gerald Balfour, President of the Board of Trade, suggested that the motion should be amended, providing for a return similar to that under the Act of 1889, in the case of servants wliobb duty involved the safety of trains and passengers, and cases of resumption of labour at an interval below eight hours. If the hours were found to compare unfavourably with the returns furnished in .1892, the House could take further action in the direction of limitation. The proposal by Mr Balfour was not accepted, and the resolution was carried by 151 to 144, amidst loud Opposition oheers. The defeat of the Government was accidental. It was understood earlier in the evening that the motion, with a verbal amendment, would be accepted, hence many Government supporters % were absent. The majority in the 1 division included nine Liberal Unionists.