IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11515, 22 February 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

A 810 GOVERNMENT MAJORITY,

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph— Copvriqht) LONDON, February 20. '.Mir Austen Chamberlain's amendment, the official Opposition amendment to the Addressi-in-Reply, was defeated by 267 to 107. _ The debate lasted two days. The Unionist freefooders and tlje Nationalists dijj not vote. The Opposition mad© no definite proposals, beyond. MiGeorge ' Wyndham's suggestion of a. tax on {neat, wool, and wheat of two shillings.! ■; r Ma* Balfour demanded consideration for the producer besides the consumer, r Ho never believed that fiscal reform would solve the whole problem of unemployment. The country depended upon its manufacturers. , T'he' present system aggravated unemployment m skilled tradfcs. They must, he said, abandon the idea of the country placing a protective duty on a particular commodity. They Were necessarily at a disadvantage m neutral markets. Tlie colonies ardently desired England to imitate tiheir ofiscal example. Preference would give freer trade with the colonies. It would be disastrous if the colonies gave preference t<i otli^r countries against England. Great interest was manifested as to yvhether. Mr Balfour's speech would show hi hi to be on firm ground with the .tariff reformers. . Newspaper coinmept!** indicate that the papers mostly consider that he still lags behind. Mr Winston 'Churchill's speech , clos* ing .the debate, was chiefly notable for his^ disapproval bf tlie . allegations that capital was leiiving the country m unusual volume. He reiterated that retaliation' might, occasionally be resorted to. .". ; ■'•*-."'