IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5832, 24 February 1906, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

A DDR ESS-IX-R EPLY. GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE OX Tine Chinese question. AXXOCXCK.MENT BY AIR CHURCHILL. A CLEAR STATEMENT. (Received February 23. 10.31 p.m.) LONDON, February' 23. In the House of Commons an amendment to the Addrew-in-Reply was moved ky Air 11. AV. Forster (exLord of the Treasury), expressing regret that the Government, after bringing the country's reputation into contempt by alleging that Chinese slavery existed in the Transvaal, took no effectual met hods towards ending it. Air Winston Churchill. Vnder-gecro-tary for the Colonies, admitted that it was not slavery in the extrema acceptance of the term, but said it was an undesirable form of contract, constituting a melancholy derogation of labour not hitherto tolerated in the British Empire.” The sudden deportation of Chinese would, he admitted, produce an economic collapse, but he believed the Transvaal would decide against permanent retention of the system, and was certain to reject the impudent demands for its extension. The Government was modifying the conditions of treatment, and if the Transvaal continued the system under repugnant conditions, ImiK-rial sanction would be withheld from arrangements with China. The Government intended to cancel the provision permitting coolies to ro-engage at the end of their contract. Three thousand licensee which had boon granted, but not signed, would be allowed to stand, likewise thirteen thousand which had boon formally signed. aiine-owxers' Fieri; es. CAPETOWN, February 23. Air Chaplain, president of the Hand Chamber of Aimes, courts the fullest ir.fpiiry into Iho treatment of Chinese coolies. Ho condemns Sir H. C. Banner man for assuming that tho mining I < pnlation of tho Rand is less humane • ban other Britishers. Air Chaplain states that owing to tho incrcacc in the employment of unskilled labour the number of skilled white labourers roio in 1903 from 13,002 to 10,527. THE WAR CONTRIBUTION. LONDON, February 22.

In tho House of Commons Air AV’in-f-ton Churchill stated that the Government was hy no moans preparer! to regard tho Transvaal’s undertaking to mako a war contribution of thirty millions as an obligation to bo lightly tot aside. THE FISCAL PROBLEM. LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH. EXPELLED FROM A CLUB. LONDON, February 22. Several supporters of retaliation have oined tho “ froc-fooders’ ” group. The Constitutional Club lias expelled Lord Balfour of Burleigh for advising Radicals to vote for the free-trado candidate for Chelsea.

Lord Balfour of Burleigh was Secrolary for Scotland from 1835 till 1003, when he, with other members of tho Balfour Cabinet, resigned, owing to disagreement with tho Government on the fiscal question.