IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 180, 3 August 1904, Page 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

CENSURE MOTION DEFEATED. ANIMATED DEBATE ON PREFER- ! ENTIAL QUESTION. (Received August 2, 11.7 p.m.) JLONDON, August 2. In the House of Commons Sir Henry CampMl-Bannerman's motion of censure on the Government was negatived by 288 votes to 210. The Rigfrt Hon. A. Lyttclton, Secretary of State for the Colonies, assarted that the colonies approved of the principle of preference. It was obvious there must be manv points of detail and' method requiring investigation, and in some degree Hlberty must) ibe allowed even to members of the Government. Mr Balfour, Premier, wMle justifying his own consistency, ridiculed the idea that every member of the party must agree at every point on questions coming before tihte country. Buch a doctrine must preclude all possibility of the Liberals coming into office. The debate was an animated one. Lord Hugh Cecil made a notable speech, declaring that preference was totally wrong, and that it was a mistake to assume that an increase in trade means an increase in affection. He cited incidents in British foreign relations. The chief feature of a remarkable sitting was Mr Chamberlain's appeal to the Government to summon ' a new colonial conference, to enable the country to ascertain authoritatively what the colonies want unci what they are willing to give. He ■contended that preference was far .Store important than retaliation, ;and that the time was ripe for its •BUbmissum to the country. The ;Sooner the issue was raised the better.

THE VOTE fHJT THE CENSURE yOTiON.

((Received August ■%. 1.1 A.m.) 4/OND'oN, August 2. Torty-six Nationalists voted with the minority on Sir Henry CampbeilBannermaini's motion. Eight Unionist Freetraders voted with the majority, and 38 Unionist Freefooders abstained. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Lord George Hamilton and Mr Kitchie and several others who were absent did not pair.