IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 29

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE FISCAL QUESTION.

LUJNDO.V, March 21.

In the House of Commons Mr ArnoldForster stated, in regard to the Australian jam contract, that the conditions of the war did not permit of weighing the tins at Durban ; the examination was r.estrict.?d to seeing that the jam had not been damaged during the sea transit, and that it was fit to issue to the troops. The question whether tb.ere was any shortage on the total supplies was now «mder investigation. He was fully alive to the necessity of relieving the army from, any general imputation of malpractices, and any individual guilty of misconduct or neglect would be punished without fear or favour.

The Hon. A. Lyttelton, Colonial Secretary, in reply to Mr G. M'Crae, explained that the delay regarding the Transvaal war contribution was due to an understanding that the payment -was to be a voluntary one, and that the development of the colony was not to be impeded. It irouldi be unwise to ask for payment prior to the establishment of an elective representative Government. He anticipated the contribution in due time. Sir M. Hicks-Beach suggested that the Government should taka security, for this debt of honour by retaining the Government revenue from the Premier diamond anine and other mining rights.

Mr Lyttelton explained that the Transvaal war contribution was not recoverable $>y law.

March 22.

In the House of Commons Mr Arnold Forster, in reply to Mr Woodhouse, said the War Office did not pay the agentsgeneral or anybody any commission or remuneration of any sort in respect to orders placed with the colonies for supplies for South Africa.

Mr J. S. Ainsworth is moving in the House of Commons to-night a resolution condemning any general duty on foreign manufactures. The Government decided that, as its attitude was already clearly 'defined, all private members' motions raising the fiscal question in any form on a private members' evening be leff? to the free and unfettered discretion of the

•House, hence official whips were not issued. A meeting of fiscal reformers "decided not to participate in the debate

px division.

March 23. In the House of Commons, Mr J. S

Amsworth's motion condemning any general duties on foreign manufactures was adopted by 254 votes to 2.

The Opposition was in full strength, and a number of Free Food Unionists a oted •with the Liberals. Other Unionists abstained from voting.

Mr Balfour, explaining, slid he was tired of lending importance to tlv: Opposition's academic discussions.

In the House of Commons. Mr Austen Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that the Budget would probably be delivered on April 10.

Mr Austen Chamber/lain prefaced his announcement as to the date of the Budget, with the words "in the ordinary course of things."'

Mr Lyttelton, the Colonial Secretary, stated that he is unable to puoiish a return relating to the systems of the graduated and differentiated colonial income tax, because New Zealand and some of theAustralian States had not furnished particulars.