IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9761, 25 June 1892, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

MEETING OR UNIONISTS. [Special to Press Association.] LONDON, June 23, A great Unionist meeting at St James’ Hall endorsed the sentiments of tho Ulster Convention. Addresses ■were delivered by the Duke of Argyll, the Marquis of Londonderry and Dr Kane. Mr Blake, the Canadian, will be a candidate for tho South Longford seat. Sir W. V. Harcourt stigmatised the avoidance of Saturday’s elections as a base manoeuvre of political warfare. Tho betrothal of Prince George of Wales will be announced in August or September. Mr Dibbs, in an address before the Empire Trade League, opposed Imperial Federation, preferring a Commercial Union on a preferential basis. [Received Juno 24, at 7 p.m.j The House of Lords has passed the Baker Street and Waterloo Electric Railway Bill; also the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Extension to London Bill. CALCUTTA, June 23. The rising among the Haaaris is at an end. [Received June 24, at 8.30 p.m.j LONDON, June 23. At a banquet tendered to residents of Queensland at present in London, Sir J. F, Garrick, the AgentGeneral for the Colony, presided. In the course of a speech he said that the Colony he represented was learning to depend on its internal resources instead of outside help, and he hinted that tho sale of Crown lands had provided the necessary relief which the Colony desired. He warned the Liberal Party of England against making the introduction of Kanaka labour into Queensland a party question, as by doing so it was raising a larger and more awkward Colonial question. [Received June 25, at 12.50 a.m.] Mr Gladstone’s manifesto to the Midlothian electors describes the Irish policy as a proposal to set both Parliament and Ireland free, enabling the former to overtake arrears of legislation, and the latter to manage its domestic affairs. It promises electoral registration, reform in the direction of one-man-one-vote, payment of electioneering charges and allowance to workmen’s members, local option with regard to licensing, and admits that the desire for shorter hours of labour is largely developed; it also implies assent to eight hours work for mines, and notes with satisfaction the ripening and rooting of various social questions. The Press generally considers that the manifesto is commonplace and disappointing.