IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2451, 6 March 1901, Page 15

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE ARMY ESTIMATES

LONDON, February 27

The closure was applied to the debate on the Address-in-Reply, the motion being agreed to by a majority of 219. •

In the House of Lords Lord Salisbury, at Lord Avebury's (formerly Sir John Lubbock) suggestion, consented to the appointment of a committee to inquire into the hours of labour In shops, though he repudiated the responsibility of accepting the decisions of the committee.

At the by-election for the Stratford Division of South-ea.st Lancashire Mr C. Cripps (Unionist) was elected by a majority of 1297, replacing Sir J. W. Maclure, Bart. (Conservative), deceased.

[At the last general election Sir J. W. Maclure defeated his opponent, Mr H. Nuttall (Liberal), by 2653 votes.] February 28. In the House of Commons the bill introduced by Mr J. H. Yoxall (L.), member for Nottingham West, providing for an eighthour day for miners was read a second time by 212 to 199 votes. Sixty-five Irish Nationalists supported the measure. The King has approved of the Supplementary Estimates, tabled in the House oi Commons. They include the sum of two million pounds for army remounts. March 1. The Supplementary Naval Estimates include a sum of £43,000 for alterations to the Ophir in connection with the Royal visit to the colonies.

The election petition brought by Sir Wilfrid Lawson against the returr of Mr J. S. Randle for the Cockermouth Division of Cumberland was dismissed, with costs.

The Army Estimates for 1901-1902 total £87,915,000, providing for an effective force of 460,000. March 2. The Army Estimates provide for a permanent army of 220,000, the remainder

of the effective force being regarded as temporary forces due to the war. The estimates include £58,230.000 for war services, with the cost of reparation and gratuities. The estimates are

based upon a calculation that the army in South Africa will be kept at its full j strength until the beginning of August, j and then gradually diminished. The increase of £414,000' for the permanent service includes a quarter of a million for 1 militia reserve and £150,000 for a newsystem of consolidated bounties. Substantial provision is made for the reorganisation of the army medical departments, and pensions for the widows and children of those who died as the result of active operations.

March 3

The Army Estimates for India are relieved of the cost of garrisoning Aden and transhipping troops to and from that station.

The strength of the militia (including the militia reserve of 50,000) is fixed at 180,000 men. With 110,000 more volunteers. The strength of the irregular and partiallyt trained forces will thus be brought up to 375,000 men, of which number the War Office is providing for 289,000 at a cost of one million and a-quarter annually The by-election for Maidstone, necessitated by the unseating of Mr John Barkei (L.) on appeal, on the ground of bribery on the part of his agents at the general election, resulted in the return of Sir Francis Evans (Liberal), who polled 2375 votes, defeating Mr Milvan (Conservative), who polled 2182 votes.

[At the general election in 1900 the voting was.— Mr J. Barker (L.), 2201; Mr F. S. W. Cornwallis (C), 2163.]