IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9092, 1 May 1890, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

IRISH LAND PURCHASE. FORTIFICATIONS. LB? ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, — COPYRIGHT .] [Special to Press Association.] [Received April 30, at noon.] LONDON, Apeil 29. Mr Raikes, Postmaster-General, has informed the Agent-General that the rates on pattern parcels to the Colonies will he reduced in May. John Dillon has resumed the debate on the Irish Land Purchase Bill. In evidence before the Colonising Committee, Mr E. N. C. Braddon, Agent-General of Tasmania, stated that the Colony was not opposed to receiving emigrants. Lord Knutsford has cabled to the Western Australian Government not to sell the land near King George’s Sound and East Albany, pending the decision of the Imperial Government on the question of Colonial defences. In his speech in the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain said that Mr Parnell’s Irish land scheme could be worked concurrently with the proposals contained in the Irish Land Purchase Bill. He trusted that Government would undertake the task of ultimately placing the control of land purchase in Ireland in the hands of the County Councils. Sir Vernon Harcourt said he would oppose Mr Parnell’s scheme. The debate was adjourned.

Baron de Worms has informed the Western Australian Enabling Committee that it had not been decided to delay defence works in King George’s Sound, hut that the Colonies would have to defray the cost of tile armament. LEecoived April 33, at 8 p.m.] Major Clarke, Secretary of the Colonial Defence Committee of the War Office, considers that it would cost £50,000 to fortify Eing George’s Sound, and it would be required to be garrisoned by one thousand men in time of war. Ho thinks it would be better to leave the Sound defenceless than for England to bear the whole of the cost. Before the Enabling Committee today Sir William Eobinson advocated that West Australia should have the control of all lands until the new Colony is established.

CALCUTTA, April 29. Over a hundred meetings have been held at Bengal, at which resolutions were passed supporting Mr Bradlaugh's Indian Reform scheme as opposed to that of Yiscount Cross, Secretary of State for India. [Received May 1, at 1.20 a.m.'J LONDOH, A teil 30. In the House of Commons the Licensing Bill, introduced by Lord Randolph Churchill, has been read a first time. ____