IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9090, 29 April 1890, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

POSTAL BATES. ENGLAND AND GERMANY. f BT ELECTRIC! TXLBGBAPB.~-COPTR.IGUT,2 [Special to Press Association.] [.Received April 28, at 13.30 p.m.] LONDON. April 27. In the House of Commons to-day. Sir Thomas Esmonde declared that th« Germans in Samoa winked at the system of slavery there, which was carried on even worse than in Africa. He thought the English rule was the best for the natives, and he hoped it would be extended to the unoccupied islands in the Pacific. He demanded that the Government should declare its policy and cease to play second fiddle to Germany. The Trustees Liability Bill has been privately circulated among the Ageuts-General. Tho Treasury is hostile to the Bill, aud it is unlikely that Mr Goschen will press the measure.

Lord Salisbury, in a letter to the Federation League, states that be is anxious that England and tho Colonies should co-operate in the matter of defence and other common interests.

During the debate on the Irish Land Purchase Bill, Mr Dillon declared that it was impossible for the State to cope with boycotting or an enlarged plan of campaign. The Scotch local authorities desire to share the spirits and beer duties to bo allocated for an education competition.

An interview took place to-day between the Ageuts-G eneral of the Australian Colonies and Mr Cecil Kaikes, Postmaster-General, with reference to the proposed reduetionin Colonial postal rates. Mr Eaikes informed the agents that a reduction on post card rates would shortly be made. He was uncertain yet whether the English Government would reduce the rate for outward letters if the Colonial Governments declined to make a corresponding reduction in letters forwarded from the Colonies to England. Sir Francis Dillon Bell explained that New Zealand was independent of Australians regarding her mail service, and she was not affected by the Brindisi route.