HOME POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2087, 22 February 1894, Page 16

HOME POLITICS.

Press Association— By Telegraph— Copyright. London, February 13. The Liberal members demand that the Government shall reinsert in the Parish Councils Bill the clauses rejected in the House of Lords. In response to a great meeting of the National Liberal Federation, held at Fortsmouth for the purpose of dealing with the attitude of the House of Lords regarding Liberal measures, Radical societies and papers have started an active crusade against the Upper Chamber. February 14. The House of Lords has passed the Parish Councils Bill. The House of Commons, by a majority of two, agreed to Mr Cobb'a amendment limiting the Earl of Dudley's amendment re the contracting - out clause in the Employers' Liability Bill to three years. Messrs Chamberlain and Balfour protested that the compromise was useless and absurd. There were several defections among the Liberals and members of the Irish party. The Times asserts that the Lords will adhere to the position, even if the bill is withdrawn. The Colonial Acts Confirmation Bill, chiefly validating the New South Wales Redistribution of Seats Bill, which the Crown law officers advised ought to have been reserved for the Royal approval, has- passed the House of Lords. Lord Knutsford suggested that the time had arrived to abolish the power of reservation in the case of small alterations in j the constitutions of the colonies. Sir W. V. Harcourt, Chancellor of the -Exchequer, announced in the House of Commops to-day that the Government had no intention of reopening the Indian mints for the free coinage of silver, or return to a minimum rate for the sale of Council bills. It was, he said, not intended to tax imported silver or change the present policy. Lord Radnor, in the course of a debate, contended that it would be impossible to abolish the House of Lords except by the agency of a bloody revolution. Truth says the Tories are already arranging the composition of their next Ministry. The Duke of Devonshire is to be Premier, Lord Salisbury Foreign Minister, and Mr Balfour Loader of the House of Commons. The Chronicle says that the Employers' Liability Bill is doomed. The House of Commons rejected the House of Lords' amendments in the bill by a majority of 22. February 15. Sir W. V. Harcourt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at Portsmouth, made a virulent attack on the House of Lords, and recalled with approval the Reform Riots and the burning in Bristol and Nottingham. He was especially bitter on the Marquis of Salisbury and Mr Chamberlain. Sir W. V. Harcourt said the Government would reject the amendments in the Parish Councils Bill, and the Lords would be sure to yield in the end. The Right Hon. H. C. Gardner, president of the Board of Agriculture, in answer to a question in the House of Commons, said the Merchandise Marks Act was sufficient to prevent colonial meat being sold as English. Sir E. Grey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Office, states that the report of the special committee to inquire into the seizure of the New South Wales vessel Costa Rica Packet by the Dutch will be referred to the law officera, Sir C. Russell explains that Sir W. V. Harcourt's reference to an import tax on silver referred solely to the Indian currency. He declined, however, to say whether the Government intended to impose an import duty for any other purpose. The House of Commons has disagreed with most of the Lords' amendments in the Parish Councils Bill, and a number of Unionists are sapporting the Government The House of Commons has insisted on tha franchise being givsn to ratepayers who compounded for their rates. The majorities varied from 116 to G9. Mr Chamberlain asked the Tories not to support the reactionary policy of the Lords, but Mr Balfour did not agree. A meeting or Unionists (the Dike of Devonshire presiding) condemned ihs attitude of the Louis, and declined to follow Lord Salisbury, excepting on the Hoaie Rule question. February 17. Lord Barton has joined the Unionists. The Colonial Acts Confirmation Bill has passed the House of Commons. The adhesion of the Houso of Lords to two important amendments in the Scottish Fisheries Bill is likely to lead to the measure being abandoned. The Government will abandon the Employers' Liability Bill should the House of Lords persist in Lord Dudley's amendment regarding the contracticg-out clause. February 19. London vestrymen and members of tbe House of Commons attended a mass meeting in Trafalgar square, at which the opposition of the Lords to the Parish Coancils Bill and reforms urgently needed was denounced, and it was declared that the amendment re

the franchise was a degrading stigma on the liberty of the masses. The House of Lords has refused to agree with the House of Commons respecting the "contracting out" provisions of the Employers' Liability Act by a majority of 114. The Government intends to drop the Scotch Fisheries Bill. February 20. The House of Lords has reinserted Lord Dudley's amendment respecting "contracting out" in the Employers' Liability Bill. Mr Gladstone to-night moved the final rejection of the amendments made by the Upper House. The advanced Radicals are clamouring for the initiation of a campaign against the House of Lords, but the Premier declines to agree. Messrs Acland aud Asquitb are in favour of an aggressive movement, and are supported by Sir W. V. Harcourt and Lord Rosebery, but the more moderate members of the Cabinet agree with Mr Gladstone. The Liberal Federation is also seeking to initiate an agitation against the Peers.