BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 81, 25 March 1908, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

UOUSIXCi OF WORKERS. Loiulou, March 23. A Hill for the housing of workers ill * Ireland was read a second time in the House 01" Commons without discussion. The Hill provides for a loan of fii.OOO,000 to tlic local authorities to enable theia to erect 25,000 dwellings. CH-IXJiSE IN THE fIIUXSVAAL, A GREAT COMMOTION.

THE GOVERNMENT ASSAILED. Received March 24, 11.38 p.m. London, March 24. In lhe House of Commons debate jn | the second reading of the Consolidate! Revenue Bill, the Right Hon. Alfiv' I Lyttelton, ex-Colonial Secretary, caus'e'd a great commotion in the Ministerial benches. He strenuously protested tln'.t

the Government sanctioned in December the re-enactment of every line oi the late Government's ordinance and regulations regarding indentured Chineso labor, wliich for four years from ten thousand platforms the Liberals had held up to execration and scorn. He declared that the enactment was dc-

liberately sanctioned behind the back of Parliament, and .was a breach or pledges given to Parliament. 'Air. Asquith: Do you say we, in assenting to the ordinance, intended to break the pledge? Cries: You did break it! Sir. Lyttelton, continuing, said the Government's intentions must be explained by the Government themselves. Neither in the Blue Book nor in the Speech had the assent been mentioned. 'Mr. Churchill, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, admitted there had been some element of exaggeration during the period of election, but the predictions of the vicious results of the system had been justified. Happily the Transvaal's noble efforts had reduced the coolies from 03,000 to 28,000. He predicted that by the end of 1008 not upwards of 10,000 would remain in the Transvaal. Any ordinance regulations winch had been sanctioned formed a necessary part of the liquidation. •Mr. Andrew Bonar Law, Unionist, quoted ilr. Asquith's speech of 2nd February, 1908.