BRITISH POLITICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 23

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE GOVERNAIENT ATTACKED.

LORD MILNER’S POSITION

LONDON, March 30

In tho House of Commons, on the motion to adjourn till April 12th, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman attacked tho Government, complaining of the meagre results of the first portion of the session. He declared that Lord Milner’s speech condemning the opinion of Great Britain was the rankest separation. He asked whether it was constitutional for Air Balfour to retain power in view of the results of byofqetions. The Government did not possess the sanction of the people after tho war and ito settlement.

Air Balfour denied that the Government were hangers-on and incapable of doing the work the country had entrusted to them. The delay in legislation was attributable to the Opposition. Neither' the Government nor Air Chamberlain, while in the Ministry, had declared that the fiscal controversy afforded any ground for. shortening the duration of Parliament. Lord Rosebery’s appeal to the Government not to allow the country to he rushed was justified. Moreover, the by-elections gave no indication of the feeling of the country as a whole. Any such doctrine tv as unconstitutional in theory, and unworkable in practice. “I should,” said Air Balfour, “be the last to blame Lord Milner if hiis speech implied a certain amount of benevolent contempt for a certain amount of opinion uttered on a subject early connected with the prosperity of the colony.” The motion for adjournment was agreed to after Sir John Gorst’s protesting against the action of Air Balfour and several Alinisterialists walking out at the outset of Lord Hugh Cecil’s speech. LONDON;' March 31. The motion for adjournment of the House of Commons until April 12th was agreed *to after Sir John Gorst had protested against the action of Air Balfour and several Alinisterialists in walking out as Air Winston Churchill proceeded to address the House. This withdrawal of Alinisterialists, took place in consequence of the fact that Air Churchill recently rebuked them for their “vulgar clamour.” Their conduct in walking out was felt acutely by Air Churchill, who complained bitterly of the slight put upon him. His prepared speech was spoiled. He offered to resign if his constituents at Oldham desired it. The “ .Standard ” rebuked the Unionists for their discourtesy over the incident.

Air Balfourig action in leaving the House during the .discussion raised by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was, it lias since been learned, due to his having made an appointment with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

ALIEN IMMIGRATION

LONDON, March 30

A Bill, introduced into the House of Commons by Air Akers-Douglas, Secret tary of State for Home Affairs, dealing with the immigration of aliens, and based on the recommendations of a Royal Commission, was read a first time. Sir Charles Dilke said lie feared the Bill struck at many helpless victims of political and religious persecution. • Mr Akers-Douglas., Home Secretary, states.,, m introducing the Aliens Bill, that the number of aliens in Britain had increased by 155,000 in the last twenty years.