IMPERIAL POLITICS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1745, 16 August 1905, Page 52

IMPERIAL POLITICS

LONDON, August 8. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, replying to a question in the House of Commons, said he was aware the Australian Commonwealth was anxious for the early appointment of a commission for the settlement of land claim in the New Hebrides. The Imperial Government had for some time past been in communication with the French Government on the subject, and was doing its utmost to expedite negotiations. The Government’s majority on the Naval Works Bill is over a hundred. LONDON, August 8. The Unemployed Workmen’s Bill has been read a third time. The Government accepted Mr Lloyd George’s amendment, allowing towns of ten thousand inhabitants to enforce the measure. The bill has been read a first time in the House of Lords. LONDON, August 8. The House of Lords has read the Scottish Churches Bill a third time. King Edward held a Council of Ministers on board, the Royal yacht at Portsmouth, and signed the warrant for the prorogation of Parliament. LONDON, August 9. In divisions in the House of Commons on the Indian Railways Loan Bill the Government majorities were as low as 29 and 24 votes. An Appropriation Bill was read a seotime by 196 votes to 85. Sir J. Dickson-Poynder (who lias represented Wiltshire in the Conservative interest since 1892) sat and spoke on the Liberal side. The Unemployed Bill was read a second time in the House of Lords. LONDON, August 10. In the House of Lords the Unemployed Bill passed through committee without amendment. Mr Akers-Douglas, Secretary of State for Home Affairs, has announced the future introduction of a bill providing for the inspection of laundries conducted at conventual institutions in the way of trade or for purposes of gain. By 110 votes to 187 the House of Commons confirmed the agreement with the National Telephone Company. Several members on both sides of the House congratulated Lord Stanley, the Postmaster-General, on the agreement, which ensures ultimately a really national system. LONDON, August 11. Replying in the House of Commons to criticism by Mr Fowler at his declining to dissolve, Mr Balfour said: — “There is one test whether a Government is entitled to conduct the business of tli"* country, namely, whether the House supports it. Elvery other test is open to qualification. “As regards by-elections, to' make the existence of a Government dependent on what may possibly bo a mere wavo of popular feeling is to reduce the constitution to an absurdity.” The Appropriation Bill lias been read a third time in the House of Commons.

The House of Lords has passed the Naval Works Bill, tho Unemployed Bill, and Appropriation Bill.