BRITISH POLITICS.

Southland Times, Issue 19771, 22 March 1906, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

TIIK COLONIAL CONLKIiMNCK, IVv United I’ress Association. J!y I l ', I eel ric Tub *grai ill. —Co) i.vrigli I • LONDON. Ahm'h 2n In Iho IToiisu of Commons Sir 11. C.-Jiannei'uian stnUxi that 'tin l Colonial Conference would ho o]xn to discuss any questions of Imperiul interest,. Asked if fiscal arrangements would be regnrdtxl as mailers of Imperial interest, he replied that it depended upon what was included in the expression “ fiscal arrangements.”

Air Augustine liirrell. President of Hoard of education, in reply to a quest ion, said a penny free meal for school children would impose an additional tax of •’si<l in the L on London rates.

IMPORTANT SHIPPING BILL. IMPROVED CONDITIONS. PROTECTION AGAINST FOREIGN COMPETITION. LONDON. March 21. Receive,'l 21 si, ULIS p.m. In the Commons a bill, introduced hy Mr Lloyd George, amending Hie Shipping Acts, was read a first time. 'The measure, which was very favourably received, applies to the British regulations respecting overloading and unsea worthiness. the storage of grain, the use of life saving appliances, and to foreign ships. Mr Lloyd Georg*' admitted that ship-owners were subjected to grossly unfair foreign competition, and stated that the mercantile marine included 176.000 Britons. 30,000 'alliens, and '12.000 Lascars. U the engagement of foreign seamen was prohiidt ed. there was a risk of mining the industry. He described the Lascars as very intelligent. sober, courageous, hereditary seamen and Brilish silbjeels, who were being deprived by their use in their coastal trade, claimed a place in (he mercandile marine. It was intended to insist on foreigners satisfying the Board of Trade that they understood' Die English words of command, and to enforce a minimum standard of food, the employment of certificated cooks, and the inspection of provisions, and to appoint advisory coinmil toes to assist tho Department in preparing regulations.

UNDERFED CHILDREN. CONDON, March 21. Received 21.si, 9.8. p.m. Tile committee appointed by the Commons to deal with the question of free meals for scholars, resolved that the ollicial report, on -physical deterioration, showed that, it was unnecessary to call evidence to prove the need for providing for scholars suffering from malnutrition and lack of food. The committee throw the responsibility niton the local educational rates.

A writer in M.A.P. does not think that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman will he aide to stand the strain of oliice for more than a year or two. This writer always marvelled at the physical vitality of Mr Balfour, 'revealed in (lie tremendous strain extended over many years. At Hie end of last session Sir Henry C.-B, looked quite as worn out as Mr Balfour. He too had some late nights, and this alone left him in so poor a condition of health, that ho took a longvacation, cutting himself off entirely from politics and his usual circle. Now he will have to hear a greater | strain more continuously, and the: writer is afraiid that he will not i stand it long.