POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8292, 22 September 1903, Page 3

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

By Telegraph. (From our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, September 21 Black Monday, the first 01 the Monday -jjrkts' was ushered into Parliaby a speech from tha . Premier in "r K of Mr Joseph Chamberlain. It was j warm tribote to the greatness o£ the map one who has had exceptional opportunisms of making himself master of the contemporary Imperial history, and is more tian the' average in sympathy with the Qjamterlara policy. Mr Seddon placed, the Imperial idea above all other ideas of statesmanship and Mr Chamberlain above his felfows M one who, realising the greatness of Empire, made himself the first Colonial Jlinister in the whole British record. The colonies, he contended, shared the thoroughness of their appreciation of ths Imperial j&a by their magnificent demonstration i2urju the Boer War, and astonished ail the world. except Mr Chamberlain. -who knew iasin. That statesman's special service and iis special claim tor the gratitude of the Empire are that he did so much to take advinUie of this spirit- and endeavor to make •ie public cf Great Britain realise what the (olonial connection really means. Mr SedjoE refrained from speaking to the fiscal isjje, but- by glorifying Mr Chamberlain as he £d he glorified the attitude taken by Mr (Jamberiain with regard to the fiscal issue. Tins he sought to take the "colony, through tie Parliament, over to the side of the great Snperial statesman, to strengthen his hands n the fight that is before him. Of coarse, jje expressed in conclusion iiis warm hope tsat Mr Chamberlain might soon be in his pface again. Mr Massev followed as tider of the Opposition. "He echoed the pises and endorsed the Premier's description of the man, his character and his career, fe added a few touches lighting np the part St Chamberlain had taken at critical momats daring the first months of the great Sier struggle. After Sir W. J. Steward lad spoken very cordially and carefully, and Imj say preparedly, in whole-souled support "of the resolutions. Mr Bedford raised i discordant note. Very respectfully he Ispoke and very firmly, and to the point. He seemed to be one who was permitted by a appreciable number of members of the Enase to lead the movement. Personally fe kid the greatest rsspect for Mr ChamKiiam. but he was delighted, holding th? riwj he dtd. when he heard that- the right am. gentleman had retired. Ee did not 1135? with the fiscal policy of Mr Chamberlain, and he did not think that the people if England believed in it either. Mr Ell Mowed on the same side, pointing out anpiatrcally that passing the resolution maid mean supporting his policy. Mr E. St Smith, took the parr in hand. Mr Sedfejrranecl in deepxt boredom, spoke his aid p'ainly. and ordered him down so that lie Hon;? might go to a division ; but Mr E. It. Smith is not in the habit of being nifasd down. He defied the Premier pmpt!y. "I am here, sir, to speak my aind freely, and I intend to speak it." He ■teed oat that he could not- give a silent tfe when it was his duty to speak for Mr Jamberkim, with whom hj? had exchanged ks once for an hoar. Ths House laaghi and E. M. went on in the same strain, j: so did the House, until he sat down afcr the impression that laughter and Luis are the same thing. Mr Fisher came mot with vigorous and boisterous banr. It was not any business of ours to info between parties in the Houss of kmons. Mr Duthie 6aid ditto, without fe banter. Sir Joseph Ward came to the nut to repel these attacks. He pointed rapidly that there was not a word in is resolution supporting the policy of Mr Samberlain. the Premier very heartily asafe. Sir Joseph dwelt on this, and tiled out that the House has a right to bWorto a Secretary of State for the Coloc« As to the fiscal issue, the House "id have an opportunity to discuss that, ffltas to the resolution, which was confined tfey to the personality and services of Mr cifcerkun. he called on thg House to pass tnanimonsly. Sir Wm. "Russell endorsed flfct from the bottom of his heart. He St that, through Mr Chamberlain's action, Bias now not a citizen of Great- Britain, ®of .1 British Empire. Mr Thomw. of Wallace, followed in the same strain tenuously. and with considerable knowMs and power of quotation. Every day ft to this gentleman's prestige in the Erase. Mr Fanan said ditto remarkably [ «I. and Mr Buchanan, though supporting te resolution. argued that the wording was tone respect unfortunate. Mr Hone Heke Mai issue, and then the House went to s Pper- Before dispersing the Premier and fcot of members argned oat the question i fte wording. Messrs Massey, Kirkbride, Ifflme. Alison. Witty, and Willis tak--5 part. After supper'Mr Banme and Mr Riord took the line that tue occasion was Wptioral. Mr Chamberlain was the only ilosial Secretary who had risen to the coupon 0: Empire which appealed to the ™ss. and it was for the* colonies to revise his great services to the Empire with®any suspicion of reference to his fiscal fopcsals. Both made excellent speeches, "■in? for a unanimous resolution, urging 151 the fiscal issue should be sunk. They sensible appeals. The Premier sied with great warmth, commenting jft considerable severity on the position fiinse wlin, unable to distinguish between CBamberlain policy of the past and Cliamtfaa policy of the future, refused to rejp* his great services to the Empire. Bedford and EH having made perexplanations. the House divided with «se twi> gentlemen in the minority. The j* a «er having been instructed to forward * "to the proper quarter, the went at 10.15 to the ordinary bttsijSpthe Bash and Swamp Land; Bill's