IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13209, 16 February 1905, Page 7

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE' SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. . Press Association—By Telejtari'a—Copyright LONDON, February 14, (Received Feb. l|j, at 9.14 a.m.) The Sovereigns opened Parliament in semi-state. ' The Royal Speech promised a representative Constitution to the Tranvaal, a Butter Adulteration Bill, one dealing with aliens, and steps will, also be, taken to effect a redistribution of seats." (Received Feb. 15, at 8.35 a.m.) The Daily .Telegraph states that the Navy Estimates will be reduced by three millions sterling, A BRILLIANT CEREMONY.. LONDON, February 15. • (Receiyetl Fe|). 15, at 10.23 p.in.) At the opening of Parliament there was a brilliant ceremony. The King had an enthusiastic, and popular reception. The Speech from the throne stated that foreign relations were friendly. The strictest" neutrality was observed. The condition of the Balkans had been ameliorated, biit still causes anxiety. The Anglo-French Convention strengthens friendly relations. The North Sea Commission would apportion tho responsibility for a deplorable incident. Steps towards the establishing of a representative Constitution in tho Transvaal were receiving earnest consideration, and it was hoped the result would be substantial progress towards tho ultimate goal of complete selfgovernment. The great difficulties encount eret). by the Thibetan mission bad been brilliantly surmounted, placing the relations with, that State on a satisfactory footing. China had sent a commissioner to Calcutta to negotiate a convention of adhesion to the Anglo-Thibetan agreement. (Received Feb. 15, at 10.32 p.m.) The lung' 3 Speech goes on to state that the Scottish Church question requires legislative intervention. The commissioners' report will enable Parliament to frame proposals tending to the • promotion of peace and goodwill. Proposals would be submitted diminishing the anomalies in electoral areas. Tho bills to be brought down include Aliens, provision for permanent machinery for dealing with the unemployed (the King having noticed with profound regret and sympathy the abnormal distress during the winter through want of employment), Scottish education extension, workmen's compensation, improving the status <,[ local government and Board of Trade, and establishing a Minister of Commerce and Industry, renewal of the Agricultural Rates Act, and the prevention of butter adulteration. A HOSTILE AMENDMENT. Mr Asquith moved to-day—" That as the various aspects of the fiscal question have been fully discussed during the last two years the time has come for submitting tho issue to the people without further delay. (Received Feb. 15, at 11.33 p.m.) Sir 11. 0. Bannerman, after a tribute to the lato Sir W. V. Harcpurt, declaycd that the fiscal question overshadowed -everything else. The country was still groping in the dark respecting Mr Balfour's policy. The Opposition pressed him to make a candid declaration. He intended to ask the House to express the opinion that it should be freed as soon as possible from the confusion resulting from metaphysical sophistications. Since the country bad expressed an opinion unequivocally, Mr Balfour's contention that the Government was entitled to remain in oflice while its parliamentary majority remained was unconstitutional and ill- : advised. The Opposition held that Mr ; Balfour's policy was the same as Mr ' Chamberlain's. He caustically criticised ' the icsnlts of the Sugar Convention, and 1 said it was a microcosm of the Govern- 1 ment's financial policy. He applauded Lord Lansdowne's action over the Dogger Bank incident. He asked an opportunity to discuss the constitutional cliangcs in the Transvaal. The Government's programme of legislation was largely show.