IMPERIAL POLITICS

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16479, 19 February 1914, Page 7

IMPERIAL POLITICS

WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright, LONDON, February 17.

Sixty-seven Nationalists in the House of Commons voted with the Government on the amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Reply, opposing the disestablishment of the Church in Wales.. The amendment was negatived by 279 votes to 217.

THE LIBERAL MINISTRY. RE-ARRANGEMENT OF OFFICES. LONDON, February 17. Mr Charles Roberts, M.P. for Lincoln, has been appointed Under-Secre-tary of the India Office, in succession to the Hon E. S. Montagu, who is now Financial Secretary to the Treasury. (Mr Charles Henry Roberts, who has succeeded to the position of UnderSecretary for India, is a son of the Church, being a son. of the Rev A. J. Roberts, formerly vicar of Tidebrook, Sussex. He was born on August 22, 1865, and was educated at Marlborough and at Balliol College, Oxford, where he graduated. As a Liberal he unsuccessfully contested Wednesbuiy in 1895, the Osgoldcrosfr division of Yorkshire in 1899, and Lincoln in 1900. In January, 1906, he won the Lincoln seat for the Liberals, polling 5110 votes, against 3718 ca6t for the Unionist Free Trade candidate, and 1163 for the Tariff Reformer.

The results of the 1910 general elections were:—January: C. H. Roberts (L.) 5402, Sir R. Filmer (C.) 3236, C. H. Seely (Conservative Free Trader) 2129. December, 1910: C. H. Roberta (L.) 5481, Sir H. Filmer (O.) 4878.)

FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. RECONSTRUCTION OF HOUSE OF LORDS. (Received February 18, 10.35 p.m.) LONDON, February 18. The newspapers, discussing the ' Westminster Gazette's" indication that the Government possibly will appoint a.Statutory Commission of both parties to recast parliamentary Government on a Federal basis, point out that the reconstruction of the House of Lords is beyond the strength of any one party. Stress is laid on the indications that any agreed settlement with regard to Ulster in the immediate future can only be transitory. The "Westminster Gazette" agrees that the House' of Lords problem should be included. NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT. ATTACKED BY MR BONAR LAW. " Times"—Sydner "Sun" Special Cablw LONDON, February 17.

Mr Bonar Law has written to Major Wilson, the Unionist candidate for Bethnal Green, stating that the Insurance Act has proved a colossal blunder, and if the Unionists were returned they would appoint a non-political, impartial committee to consider the whole principle of the,Act, and also whether a voluntary system iB desirable. IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. UNIONIST MOTION REJECTED. THE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. LONDON, February 17. Uln the- House of Commons Captain Try on moved an amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Reply in favour of Imperial preference withbut imposing fresh duties on foodstuffs, also in favour of the imposition of a moderate duty, not exceeding 10 per cent, to safeguard the stability of productive industries. Sir S. 0, Buckmaster, Solicitor-Gen-eral, stated that the Cabinet was convinced that no solution of the industrial unrest could be found in' any change of the system which had made Britain rich and strong. Mr Bonar Law maintained that no fiscal system was applicable to all countries and all times. He was not advocating protection and never had done so, but merely sought preference for their own people. The moment the Conservative Party attained power it would give the dominions precisely what they asked for. The amendment was rejected by 283 to 209.