IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 19

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

LIBERALS AND HOME RULE. LONDON,. April 12. Lord Balfour of Burleigh moved a resolution questioning the Government's action relative to a Colonial Conference. -He insisted on full information, whether it would he an ordinary free, unfettered conference or held for a special purpose. The Duke of Marlborough reiterated Mr Balfour's public declarations. He declared thfft the. conference would "be free and unfettered. It would be asked to discuss whether the idea of closer union on commercial or any other basis commended itself ; if so, in what precise manner it could b& carried into effect. The delegates would communicate the results to the colonial Governments. The scheme was not considered binding on Britain until submitted to the electors. I An animated debate followed, though Lord Halsbury denounced its unreality. Lord James of Hereford said it was unfair to bring - colonial representatives under false pretences. The Marquis of Lansdowne said it was useless for us to ask the colonies to abandon ideas on which their financial and industiial system was constructed 1 . It was useless for the colonies to ask us to adopt a system of Protection. The conference .would consider whether, within those limitations, it was possible, to devise a mutual arrangement beneficial to the Em- , pire as a whole. I Lord Grschen sarcastically congratulated ihe Government on deferring the recasting of the fiscal system until after two elections. Lord Rosebery said the conference was a read herring across Mr Chamberlain's inconvenient path. The motion was negatived' without a division. In the House of Commons Mr Broadihurst's amendment reducing the tea duty to 4d was rejected by 249 to 184. The duty was fixed at 6d by 247 to 168. The Right Hon. W. *H. Long, President of the Board of Trade, in answer to a question, defined Sir A. MacDonnell's status as similar to that of any other permanent departmental head. He was thoroughly under th,e supervision and control ot the Minister (the Chief Secretary for Irelandi). Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman gave notice of a motion of censure designed to split Ministerialists on Sir A. MacDonnell and Mr Wyndliam's schemes of devolution. April 14. In the House of Commons Mr C. Tuff (C) moved that, in view oi the Opposition Leader's' conflicting statements, it was expedient for Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman to give an explicit declaration on the question of Irish Home Rule. Sir H". Caniphell-Bannerinan declined to satisfy such a preposterous demand. The Liberals woiild continue to struggle in the cause of the good government of Ireland as time and circumstances allowed. Mr J. E. Redmond said that tK* Nationalists occupied Mr Parnell's ground in 1886. Mr Balfour said that if the Opposition

j secured a majority the Nationalists mighl 1 whistle for Home Rule. April 15. In the Houce of Commons Mr Trevelyan'i bill for rating land values was read ; second time by 202 votes to 112. April 16. Mr Balfour has promised a reply to thf. statement adopted at the Tariff Reform League meeting on the 13th inst.