IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11688, 22 February 1902, Page 2

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

United Press Association—rer Electrio Teletfrnph—CopvrijriitEeceived 11.39 p.m>„. February 21st. LONDON,. February 21. In the House of Lords the Larl of, Onslow, replying to Lord Lainington, exGovevnor of Queensland said that the. Pacific Island Laboured Kill was a subject entirely within the; Commonwealth, jurisdiction. Doubtless care would bo : taken that labourers werA returned to thenown villages * Eeceived 1.12, a.m.,. February 22nd. The House of Commons by 263 votes' to 160 vote* agreed to sit full time during the first four days, of. tide week, thus, enabling members to have a longer weekend holiday. Mr Brodrick, replying to questions recently formulateil; b> the " Daily Engross'" in reference to army remounts, said that no unbroken houses were purchased in. Australia; that Mr Bergl's. offer of horses, was not accepted:: that the rates paid' to. Houlder Brosr wwa £l6 to £18; that the Government w«r« not' aware that others paid £B. The "Dailv Express" in rspJy says that an Australian shipper states that ho carried 5000" hon-es for Baden-Powell and others at £ti. „ . In the' House of Lords, Lore? Carrmgton moved for the production of all papers in connection with the tend'ers fop the Army meat contract. Ho denounced the enormous profits on the last contract. Lord Raglan said that Slio Government had accepted the lowest out of 55 tenders for the new contract, and that the currency was five years. Lord Lansdowne said that all agreed after the colonies' splendid behaviour that iio. *ffort ought to be spared to give them a chance of freely competing. Burgl's statements of the profits of a rival company required to be taken with a irviiin of salt. The Public Accounts Committea of the House of Commons, declared thai the lust contract was justifiable in view ol the difficulty of supply and the uncertainty of events, though it would have been fce* ter if there had been for live and frozen meat. Bergl's contract stood unaltered, but monthly inspection and reports at intervals had been arranged for in order to secure honourable observance of the contractor's promise to deal with the colonies as far as possible. The Admiralty's contract for the supply of meat to ships in Simon's Bay was 53d, compared with Bergl's 5Jd with distribution. It would bo impolitic to produce the tenders, and an immediate enquiry would be improper and inconvenient. The motion was negatived without a division.