BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12867, 27 May 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

, THE OBNSUHE 'VOTE. STORMY SCENES. United Press Association. — By Electric Telegraph,— Copyright. I London, May 26. j The House of Commons mot in a heated condition, and stormy scenes ensued. Replying to questions, Mr Balf|our (Prime Minister) said if the Colonial Conference reassembled -Jjiefiore the dissolution o£ Parliament, it 'would meet under the terms fixed by the resolution adopted at the last confer' ence. He saijd he never suggested that such conference shoixkl consider colonial preference. Replying to Mr Winston Churchill's direcL 'question : "Would the Government refrain from sirbjsiitting any proposal for Imperial preference to a conference meeting before the dissolution of Parliament?" Mr Balfour said : ".We will not make proposals i any more than at tlia previous conference.' ' The Daily Chronicle says tho answer committed the Government to mothing. *• ,Mr Balfour offered Tuesday for the vote of censure if Sir Henry ; Camp i bellBanncrjnan would pledge hijmself to prevent a recurrence of the outrage of decency which took p^ace on Tues-j day last, and to aliord fair play. He implied that the Right Don. A. Lyt-j telton, Secretary for the Colonies, wlauLd speak early in the debate, and himself later. Sir (H. CalmpWell-Bamierman replied tlmt if 'he gave an understtaiiding he would be usxirping the authority of the chair. He added that Ml- Balfour's departure from the invariable pi'actice hafd provoked disorder: fW'hen he made a direct imputation of dishbnoura'ble conduct, ,Mr Balfour ought to have Explained itnumediately. (Mr Balfour refused to accept such a doctrine. Sir H. Camptiell-Bannetfman replied that since the censwro motion would deal with the whole rjuestion , of the Colonial Conference, it was perfectly reasonable* 1 that the Government should speak as they chose. There would be no ground for disorder if the ordinary procedure were adopted.

Oa Mr Balfour stating that he Hbeod Tuesday since Sir H. Cami^l-Bann'or-raan IVttd given tho pledge in grudging-, stumbling langruag'e, the Liberals shouted, '"No plet%e."