POLITICS IN CANADA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7301, 3 December 1910, Page 5

POLITICS IN CANADA

QUESTION OF PEITILEGE COMPLAINTS REGARDING NEWSPAPER CRITICISM. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright OTTAWA, December 1. In the Dominion House of Commons the Minister for Marine, Mr Brodeur, complained regarding articles published in the French Nationalist newspapers, and raised the question of privilege. The newspaper Le Devoir ’’ had accused him of intentionally misleading the House in attributing to “Le Devoir ” articles it had never published. The Minister acknowledged that “Le Devoir” did not publish the articles, but urged that his error was unintentional. Mr Blending, a French Canadian, declared that Mr Brodeur had accused him of anti-British speeches during the Quebec election. lie emphatically denied delivering the speeches alleged. The incident closed without result. PREMIER UNDER FIDE. OTTAWA, December 1. In the House. .Mr Foster, who was Minister for Finance in several Conservative Cabinets, accused Sir Wilfrid Laurier of not living up to his appeals against race prejudice. NAVAL POLICY CRITICISED. HOSTILE AMENDMENTS DEFEATED (Received December 2, 11.45 p.in.) OTTAWA, December 2. In the House Mr Gilbert, who recently defeated the Laurier candidate at a byelection in Quebec province, explaining the French-Canadian attitude on the naval question, declared that a plebiscite ought to be taken previous to the formation of the navy. He wished to preserve the country's autonomy unaffected, so that the fullest benefit would result from public expenditures. Other members criticised the existing oruisais, declared they would bo useless for the warfare of, the future, and contended that home-built cruisers, .would not bo any better. 1 Amendments disapproving of the Government policy , and denmnding'a plebiscite were defeated by a majority of 50.