IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12635, 23 March 1905, Page 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Unrfcftl Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Keceived 9.30 p.m., March 22nd. LONDON, March 22. In the-House of Lords the Earl of Seliorne. First Lord of the Admiralty, replying to Earl Spencer's enquiries concerning the Nary Estimates, said that Britain noticed what' others were doing and never forced the pace. It was her duty to protect every portion, of the Empire from invasion. The Navy stood between us and conscription. Without the Navy the present fiscal system was impossible. The Davy's functions enabled bread to be brought to the worker, raw material to the loom and the forge. The question would not be solved" by the mere balancing of forces here and forces there- Notwithstanding- the immense responsibilities, however, he never advocated the three-power standard. He did not think the country's finances could stand it, and the financial security was equally as important as the naval. After emphasising the two-power standard, primarily applied to battleships, he said that it meant the necessity for a sufficient margin to enable a win. He insisted upon a very wide margin for cruisers, superiority being essential to protect farreaching commerce.

SOUTH AFRICAN AFFAIRS. Received 10.47 p.m., March 22nd. LONDON, March 22. In the House of Commons Mr Arnold Forster, Secretary of State-for War, declared, regarding the Australian jam contract, that the conditions of the war did not permit of weighing at Durban. The examination was restricted to seeing that the jam was not damaged in sea transit, and was fit to issue to the troops. The question whether there was any shortage on the total supplies was now under investigation. He waa fully alive to the necessity of relievinz the. army of any general imputation of maFpraCtice, and any individual .guilty of misconduct or- neglect would be punished whnoutfear or farour. ■

The Hon. A. Lyttelton, Colonial Secretary, in reply to Mr McCrae, member for Edinburgh (East), explained .that the delay regarding the Transvaal war contribution was due to an understanding that the payment would be voluntary, and that the development of the colony would not be impeded. It would be unwise to ask payment prior to the establishment of an elective representative Government. He anticipated that the contribution would be paid in due time. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach (Bristol), suggested that the Government should take security for this debt of honour by retaining the Government revenue from the Premier Diamond Mine and other mining rights. The Hon. A. Lyttelton explained that the Transvaal war contribution was not recoverable by law. Mr Arnold-Forsteiy in reply to Sir J. T. Woodhouse (HuddersMd), said the War Office did not pay the Agents-General or anybody commission or remuneration of any sort in respect to orders placed in the colonies for supplies for South Africa.

THE FISCAL QUESTION. Received 10.50 p.m.. March 22nd. LONDON, March 22. Mr J. S. Ainsworth (Argyllshire), is moving in the House of Commons to-night, a resolution condemning any general duty on foreign manufactures. The Government has decided that as its attitude is already c'early defined all private members' motions raising the fiscal question io nnv form on -private members' eveninir shall be .left to the free and,, unfettered discretion of the House, hence* the official whips were not issued. A meeting of fiscal reformers decided" not to participate in the debate or division.