BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 9954, 15 March 1894, Page 2

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT BY SMALL MAJORITY. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY TO BE REMODELLED. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE TO BE MOVED. [I'EK PRESS ASSOCIATION.] London, March 14. — In the Houae of Commons, My Labouchore moved, as an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, that an address be drawn up for presentation to the Queen, asking her to exercise her prerogative, and prevent the House of Lords from rejecting Bills sent up from the Lower Chamber. Sir Wm. Harcourt, speaking to the motion, ridiculed the creation of five hundred Peers. The amendment was carried on division, by 147 votes to 145. Seventythree Irish members voted with the majority. Extreme Radicals also supported ababoucherc's motion. The Unionists present voted with tho Government. The Irish members explain they wore bound to vote against the House of Lords, but their action is regarded as expression ! of distrust of Lord Rosobery. Sir W. V. Harcourt, in a subsequent [ review of the situation, said the Irish I members had averted an actual rupture, though tho nature of the promises were unknown. The division was taken earlier tbau uxpected, aud it is unlikely under tho circumstances that the Governmeut will resign. It is probable tliat a new Address will I be substituted, or that a vote of-oonfi-j denco in the Ministry will be proposed, in order to obtain a fair test of tho state of j feeling in the Chamber. Tho Unionist Press regard tho incident ; as significant of an early break up of the Government. Mr Redmond moved a further amendment to tho Address-in-Reply, to tho etfect that a general amnesty should be granted to the dynamiters, but this was negatived by a majority of 190, Mr Asquith, Home Secretary, steadfastly refusing to make the concession

asked. Mr Redmond threatened that active agitation in Ireland would be renewed if the suspension of the Home Rule question was of long duration. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr John Morley, Chief Secretary for Ireland, said an English majority was not essential to carry Home Rule. It was impossible to fix the date when the Bill would be introduced. Mr John Redmond said it was intolerable that the Home Rule question should be abandoned by this Parliament. Mr Chamberlain urged that the suspension of Home Rule until England had V«9n drugged by the Newcastle programme was unfair. There is an impression that Lord Rosebery will approach the Home Rule question in a fi-iendly spirit, as part of a wide plan for decentralisation. The Liberal newspapers criticise the indiscreet nature of the Premier's speeches. Mr Davitt admits that he practically justified the Lords in their rejection of Government bills. Sir Wm. Harcourt will introduce a new Address in-Reply in order to avoid the difficulty caused by Mr Labouchere's snap victory.