BRITISH POLITICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1679, 4 May 1904, Page 20

BRITISH POLITICS.

ALIENS BILL. A HOSTILE AMENDMENT. LONDON, April 26. During a debate in the House of Commons on the I ndesirable Aliens* Bill, Mr W. Long President of the Local Government Board, said the BiU simplv regulated' the immigration question. v The undesirables, were national, and not local victims of _ persecution, and Avere always assured of an asylum. Mr -H. Norman (Radical member for South Wolverhampton), Major Evans Gordon (Conservative member for Stepney), and Mr'S. Buxton (Radical member for Tower Hamlets) warmly supported the Bill. Mr Akers-Douglas (Secretary of State for the Homo Department), who- introduced the measure, emphasised the safeguard provided in Parliamentary criticism of administration in the House of Commons. - • «* The Right Hon Sir C. W. Dilke (Radical member for Forest of Dean) moved an amendment to the Bill that the House before assenting thereto assures itself that the Aliens Bill safeguards the principle of an asylum for the victims of persecution. The amendment was negatived by 241 votes to 117, and tlie second reading of the Bill Avas agreed to. During the debate, Sir Charles Dilke urged that tlie evils of cheap alien labour would be best met by antiSAvciating legislation. The Right Hon IT. IT. Asquith (Radical member for West Fifesbire) declared that the Bill Avas unworkable, and at variance with the noblest British traditions. ITe was willing to empower the Courts to expel convicted aliens. The overcrowding question was a matter for legislation.