BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9182, 5 April 1910, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

TARIFF REFORM.

(By Eleotbio Telegkaph—Copyright.) (Pee i j p.es3 association.}

LONDON, April 4. The Manchester Guardian, in discussing the question, whether tho Unionists contemplate changing their programme in order that all colonial corn shall be admitted free, says the Tariff Reform League's literature, published in January, suggested that the colonial produce should be taxed a shilling, while the National Union Conservative Association stated that colonial producc should be admitted free.

MR REDMOND ON THE SITUATION

LONDON, April 4. Mr Redmond, Leader of the Nationalist Party, speaking at Tipperary, said that the Liberals as a whole were straight upon the question of the Lords, but it was usciess to pretend that there was not an influential section of the Government half-hearted arid inclined to be timid. It was acting- on- disastrous counsels to prevent an explicit declaration that Mr Asquith would ask for guarantees. The situation would be that if the Nationalists were assured that the Government would decline to continue in the event of such guarantees being refused, and then if the Nationalists passed the Budget and the Veto resolutions were rejected, the Nationalists would be left without, a weapon to forco Mr Asquith to abide by his Albert Hall declaration. | If the third reading of the Budget were reserved until a crisis was precipitated, the Nationalists would then discuss the concession which they would make. The J Budget itself was tolerable. Mr LloydGeorge had satisfied him weeks ago that amicable arrangements were possible with regard to spirit license and duties and* land tax re-valuations. MR. CHAMBERLAIN TAKES HIS SEAT. UNEXPECTED REAPPEARANCE. After an absence of three years Mr Chamberlain unexpectedly reappeared today on the stage of his former triumphs (writes the Parliamentary correspondent of the Manchester Guardian on February 17), and in a hushed and almost empty House took the oath of allegiance. The secrct of his intention had been carefully guarded. For some hours during the earlier part of the day some hundreds of his fellow-members had been crowding up to the tables, till at length "nearly half of the total membership had completed the ceremony of initiation. About four o'clock Mr Austen Chamberlain came in, and for a time remained standing behind the Speaker's Chair conversing with the Whips and with Mr Wing, the new member for Grimsby. Very soon the opportunity for which the group had probably been waiting presented itself. Only one or two members remained in the Chamber, and apart from the Press Gallery the other parts of the House were almost deserted. Following on a quick succession of messages which had been received and dispatched behind the Chair, Mr Fuller hurried forward to the table, and in an audible voice informed the clerks of Mr Chamberlain's approach. A profound and expectant silence fell on the House. Members who had been about to take the oath suspended their intention and quietly stood aside. Then the door was thrown open, and supported between his son and Lord Morpeth Mr Chamberlain walked slowly and with much effort to a seat on the Treasury Bench, looking, in the pathetic Homeric phrase as applied to the shade of Patroclus, "exceedingly like unto himself," for though broken in health, Mr Chamberlain, as all were glad to observe, is still very little altered in appearance. Though the old impetuous fire may have burned itself out, the indomitable will maintains its sway, and subdues to its imperious rule even the anxieties and apprehensions of his relaI tives. Nothing could have been more touching than the tender assiduity with which the son of the stricken statesman sought to soften for his father the rigours of this strange ordeal. Taking ■ upon himself the duties usually fulfilled by the Clerk of the House, Mr Austen Chamberlain sat down by his father's side and read over to him the terms of the oath, which Mr Chamberlain in turn made an effort to repeat. Then the son rose, and advancing to the table inscribed the father's name and the name of his constituency on the roll, and once / more came back to his father's side, bringing with him the book containing the freshly-written entry, to which he pointed with a word of explanation. On the place thus indicated, Mr Chamberlain carefully traced a cross. Little remained to be done, but perhaps that was the most trying part of all. Assisted to his feet, the newly-initiated member advanced to the Chair to make his bow to the Speaker, to whom he was presented by Sir Courtenay Ilbert in the words, tremulously spoken, "Mr Chamberlain, West Birmingham." Like the Clerk, the Speaker found difficulty in controlling his voice as with extending hand he bade the member for West Birmingham welcome, and expressed his pleasure at seeing him back again. Unable as it seemed to offer his right hand Mr Chamberlain put up his left, murmured a word of acknowledgment, and a moment later, supported by his eon and Lord Morpeth, passed out at the door through which he had made his dramatic entrance.