IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 19

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE FISCAL QUESTION. ' LONDON, March 8. j In the House of Commons Mr Balfour, \ in reply to Mr Welby, said, in the opinion ' of the committee for Imperial Defence, an ' invasion of Britain in numbers sufficient to make a conquest of . London, or any conquest, possible was outside any considerations that should be weighed. The governing consideration fixing the strength of the land) forces depended not on questions concerning the defences of the Mother Land, but colonial, and still more Indian, needs anci the consequent strain on the nation's resources. Mr Brodrick announced that China had not expressed adhesion to the Thibetan treaty, but the Government were negotiating on the question. Earl Percy stated that the Government was appointing vice-consuls at Leopold Ville and Stanley Falls, in the Congo (Free State. Apparently the British surplus is nearly seven millions. The Government majorities on the naval estimates are satisfactory. The Government wiil move the previous question to Mr Winston Churchill's motion — " That a preferential system involving taxation of food) will not s^cme the permanent union of the Empire,," — which is to ba taken to-day. In the House of Commons the form in which " the previous question " was moved by the Government precluded a direct vote upon Mr Winston Churchill's motion. Members consequently treated the dC vision as if upon the main question. Two hundred and sixty voted for Mr Churchill's motion and 302 for the previous question. The supporters of Mr Churchill included Lord George Hamiltor andi 14 other free food Unionists and 65 Irish Nationalists. Several, including Lord Hugh Cecil, abstained from voting. Four voted with the Government. The Hon. A. Lyttelton protested against the discussion and obstruction. He said the Government wished to ascertain in a businesslike spirit the colonial proposals, and discuss them with an unbiassed mind. Mr Churchill's motion was intended to mislead the unwary ar.oJ to obscure, and not elicit, the truth. Mr Chamberlain, defending the Government's attitude, declared that the effect of the motion was to muzzle the Colonial Conference. Mr Balfour reiterated that he was opposed to piotective taxation of food. I March 9. Mr Asquith, speaking to Mr Churchill's rnction, taunted the Government with consistently and 1 undisguisculy treating the opinion of the House of Commons with contempt, and with fettering Parliament. The time was coining when they would, have to appear befoie a tilbunal whoro they would be unable to move "the previous question." March 10. In the House of Commons the Supplementary Estimates, including the Somaliland campaign expenses (the whole war costing £2,420,000), were agreed to by 273 to 219. Earl Percy stated that Great Britain had relieved the menace of an-

other attack, and had shown the natives she was faithful to her engagements. Henceforth they would limit the administrative responsibility to the coast, organising the natives for self-defence, and stationing an Indian regiment in Somaliland for a year.

Amid the cheers of th? trade unionists the Trades Disputes Bill was read a second time by 252 votes to 130, and referred to th.? Standing Committee on Law. Its opponents objected particularly to the third clause. Mr Finlay declared that it was rash to legislate prior to the Royal Commission's report. He would vote against the bill, but the Government 7 was treating it as an open question. March 11. The third clause of the /rades Disputes Bill protects trades unions funds against the recovery of damag.es owing to the action of members. Mr Asquith supported the bill being referred to the committee.