IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2556, 11 March 1903, Page 20

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

LONDON, March 3. In the House of Commons, Sir P. 33. Finlay, K.C., Attorney-general, promised the introduction of a bill at the earliest opportunity relating to public companies and fraudulent balance sheets. Under the act of 1861 the prosecution must prove that these are intended to defraud shareholders or creditors, but is silent as regards attempts to induce the outside public to invest. In the House of Lords Lord Tweedmouth asked for additional papers dealling with Venezuela. Lord Landsdowne denied that there was any risk of alienating American sympathies. Germany assiired Washington early last year that she did not intend the smallest acquisition of territory in South America or the adjoining islands. Great Britain's official intimation ,to Washington concerning the blockade was made in November, but there were excellent reasons for knowing how Washington was likely to regard our action. Sir P. B. Finlay, Attorney-general, moved for the issue of a writ for the election of a member for Galway in place of Arthur Lynch. Sir S. Bartley moved an amendment against the issue of the writ during the present session. Mr Balfour objected to any disfranchisement of the electors without an investigation by a committee of the House. He declared, moreover, that controversies between the House and constituencies had never been to the advantage of the Hou?e. He supported the motion on the ground of reason and precedent. Lord Hugh Cecil and Colonel Kenyon-Slauey supported the amendment, which was negaxived by 248 to 145. The motion was then agreed to. Mr Balfour declared that if Lynch was admittedly a brave man, then his constituency was leis blameless than other* who had elected both traitors and cowards. The minority included 43 Unionists and two Liberal*. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour, in reply to a question, said that the Admiralty had carefully considered the offer to sell the Chilian and Argentine battleships, but had found them unsuitable, and therefore it was not advisable to buy them. The Gordon-Bennett Motor Race Bill was read a third time in the House of Lords. March 4. The Commons ;ire disci'.^ing the supplementary vote for the Colonial Depurteieni.

f Mr Austen Chamberlain, replying to I the allegations levelled against the recent Premiers' 1 Conference in London by Messrs Edmund Robertson and T. Gibson Bowles, said that any increased contribution to Imperial defence must be free and spontaneous. The resolution adopted at the conference in regard to preferential trade within the Empire was receiving the Imperial Government's most careful attention. The Standard declares that the selfgoverning colonies cannot be expected to merge their, .own, preparations in a general scheme of defence until they are convinced that the Imperial army and navy are administered on a thoroughly scientific and comprehensive plan. In the Hou=e of Commons, Mr Brodrick stated that the Somaliland expedition would he restricted to checking the Mullah's encroachments, and to safeguarding the tribes under our protection. Mr H. 0. Arnold Forster's proposal to transfer certain coaling stations from the War Office to the Admiralty has been abandoned. • Mr Ritchie, Home Sscretary, promised an inquiry in reference to the Unemployed Conference's request for the appointment of a. Minister of Commerce and Industry. • Sir C. E., Howard Vincent has introduced a bill providing for the exclusion or export of criminal aliens. March 5. In the House of Commons the Government negatived the proposed harbour and dock on the eastern side of Gibraltar on the ground of their great expense, and that they would not yield adequate results to Imperial defence. Mr Arnold Forster has introduced a bill allowing, under future engagements, that portion of the 12 years' service in the navy be completed in the reserve, extending the limits of the number of the reserve, and enrolling the Naval Reserve Volunteers as bluejackets, stokers, and as Volunteers in connection with the marines, all being liable to serve anywhere in war time. The House of Commons agreed to a resolution submitted by Mr R. J. Price, Liberal member for Norfolk East, affirming the desirability of borough and district councils regulating the closing of shops, and limiting the hours of shop labour. The Government sympathised with the proposal, though they stated they were unable to legislate thereon this session. ■Mr Balfour ' has announced that the Vaccination Act will be renewed for^a year. Mr Hanbury has introduced into the House of Commons a Butter Adulteration Bill. March 6. In the House of Lords, Earl Carrington's motion that the Government reconsider the military organisation was negatived by 51 to 15. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour announced a new naval port and base had been established at St. Mary's Hope, on the north fide of the Firth of Forth, in accordance with the committee's recommendation in January last. The announcement was received with cheers. Mr Broderick announced that a Royal Commission will inquire into the services for the pay of the militia and Volunteers. The VT-ir Office Estimates total £34,500,000, providing for an army of 235,761 :r.on. In the House of Commons Mr Balfour moved the resolution that the growing needs of the Empire require the Committee of Defence to be placed on a permanent footing. He warned the House not to expect too much from this scheme inasmuch as it was experimental and tentative. With the best of preparations war was always full of surprises. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman agreed in the necessity for a large comprehensive view of naval and military needs, and also for record?, but he asked how they could maintain Ministerial responsibility with officials' sitting beside Ministers, or how they could override a decision of the committee. He moved the adjournment of the debate with a view to a fuller discussion. The amendment was negatived without a division, and the resolution was similarly carried, speeches showing that Ihe proposal was most favourably recpived. The election to fill the vacancy in Parliament for Dublin University, caused by the retirement of the Right Hon. W. H. Lecky, the historian, resulted in the re- : turn of Mr J. H. M. Campbell, X.C, Solicitor-general for Ire' and, by a small majority over Mr A. W. Samuels, K.C. Both candidates were Unionists. In the House of Commons Mrßrodrick p-rplainecl that the attention of Lord Roberts had been privately called to the ragging of subalterns in the Grenadier Guards by order of imofficial courtsmartial. Lord Roberts directed that an inquiry be held, at which Lieutenantcolonel Kinloch, commandant of the first battalion of the regiment, attended. Kinloch was compuhorily retired because he was unaware of the irregularities in the regiment. March 7. A bill introduced by Mr T. H. Sloan, M.P. for Belfast South, to procure the closing »f publichouses in Ireland at 9 on Saturday night*, was read a second time by 101 to 76. March 3. Mr C. A. Crinps K.C. (C), is introd.uciss ft hill \<j make, the bhacj}/

authority effective in matters of doctrine and ritual. It is expected that the hills of Mr Cripps and Mr D. Maclver (C.) will, after their second readings, he re* ferred to some committee.