IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 33

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

London, February 13. In the course of his reply in the House of Commons to questions concerning the Payment of Members Bill, the Chancellor of the Exchequor, Sir W. V. Harcourt, said the Bill would not include provision for defraying the. election expenses of members. The Government had not abandoned the Bill, but it was a question of time and money. AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION. Mi* William Redmond asked whether, if the Australian colonies determined on a Federal Constitution, the Government would introduce the necessary Enabling Bui./' ; .■■■■■ .; : : h ;,■ Mr Buxton, Parliamentary Secretary fdr the (Colonies, said that in the event of the colonies taking such a step he would be favourably inclined to assist them in the direction indicated. ' Amnesty to political prisoners. •; . The Mayor of Dublin, on behalf of the Municipal Corporation, appeared before the bar of the House of Commons in support of the petition for an amnesty to political prisoners. He told the House that to grant the amnesty would remove a just cause of discontent in Ireland. Speaking to an amendment proposed to the motion in favour of the adoption of the Address-in-Reply by Mr J. J. Clancy, member for Dublin, in favour of an amnesty to dynamiters, Mr Asquith, Home Secretary, said he thought the time had not yet come for the exercise of clemency towards this class of prisoners. He promised, however, that he would consult the Judges before whom they had been tried. London, February 16.

In the House of Commons, Mr J. J. Clancy's amendment to the Address-in-Reply, in favour of an amnesty to the dynamiters, was rejected by 188 votes. Sir "W. Vernon Harcourt warmly complained of the number of such amendments. He pointed out that when Guy Fawkes attempted to destroy the House of Commons, the people did not discriminate whether his was a political or an ordinary offence. ■ ... FRANCE AND THE CONGO. Sir Edward Grey, Under-Secretary to the Foreign Office, speaking in the House of Commons, said that Great Britain does not recognise,the pre-emption of France in regard to the Congo territory. THE NICARAGUA CANAL. Sir Edward Grey also announced that the Government intended to make representations that international control of the Nicaraguan Canal was necessary. He had no reason to suppose the United States would withdraw from the treaty engagement. • MB CHAMBERLAIN'S AMENDMENT.

Mr Chamberlain, in moving his amendment to the Address-in-Reply to the effect that it is contrary to the public interest that Parliament should be occupied with the discussion of measures which the Ministry admit have no prospect of becoming law, while in the judgment W: Parliament they ought to take pr&posala involving a grave constitutional change, said he desired to lay bare the tactics of the Government. If, he said, the Government believed the country favoured Home Rule, they would have struck a greater blow at the House of Lords by appealing to the country than by the proposed resolution. He challenged the Government to submit the resolution forthwith. The Government, he c'eclared, were tottering, and they should not shrink from the inevitable plunge. The Home Secretary, Mr Asquith, speaking to the amendment, said that Home Rule at present was not a vital question. While the Government had the confidence of the House of Commons they were determined to fulfil their other pledges to the electors. It is expected that the division 1 will be taken on Monday. |

ENGLAND AND UGANDA

In the House of Lords, the Premier, Lord Rosebery, said the Government would undertake the construction of the Uganda railway when the moment was opportune. Negotiations were proceeding with those interested in the territories which the railway would traverse. The Marquis of Salisbury urged promptitude, owing to the fear of losing the markets there, in view of the energy of other Powers. The enormous growth of Protection in France, Germany and America had everywhere choked British commerce, and he demanded the construction of the proposed railway, as it would open up a new territory. Mr Chamberlain declares there is no doubt that a general election would return a large majority in favour of autonomy for Ireland; but there is, he says, no gentiine agitation in Ireland, although a levy of 4d per head has been made to meet the needs of the Nationalists.