IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13355, 3 August 1907, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

NAVAL AFFAIRS.' . '..- t - THE BUILDING PROGRAMME. Press Ass'ociatibh-By Telegraph-Copyright . :Y-. , LONDON, vAugust 1. In the.House, of Commons ;Mr Edmund Robertson, Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, in dealing with the jshipbinlding vote, stated tliat the British mptilla-.of destroyers was superior in essential-quality to those of foreign nations. "The further 'construction of large- armoured cruisers was not required immediately. In view of Britaih'-s- superiority hi these, attention in connection with the programme of 1908 was being directed to the improvement of scouts of a type to succeed the Edgar class of cruiser. He proceeded to describe the Boadicea, type of third-class cruiser, which is largely superior in coal endurance and armament to the scout and suitable as a parent ship to the destroyers; also for service ,on stations, jHe showed that there had been no cheeseparing in repairs to the fleet. The reports regarding the discharges from the dockyards had been, exaggerated. Mr Balfour said the whole disquiet in the public, mind relating to repairs, he was convinced, would be ended if the Admiralty, on its own authority, would state in" regard to each ship whether the criticism was accurate. The " Times'" declares that Mr .Bal--four i)ointed to the true remedy, which it trusts will forthwith be applied. The paper emphasises in. regard to cruitse'rs that we are oh the eve of a new departure. The problem will involve exhaustive study, and perhaps much controversy before it is solved. .*;':...' The by : election for Nortltbast Staffordshire, to fill'a. vacaney caused by the death of Sir A. Biltson, resulted as fol-lows:—-Mr Stanley (Liberal and Labourite) 7396,' .Mr Twyfo'rd (Unionist) 5047. BRITAIN AND:. RUSSIA. THE BUTTER BILL. Received 11.30 p.m., August 2nd.. LONDON, August 2. In the House of Commons during a discussion on the Foreign Office Vote Sir E. Grey stated that Britain's negotiations with Russia sought the removal of. all possible causes of quarrel, but the degree of friendship following such agreement depended not on the Foreign Office but upon the sentiments of the two peoples. He admitted, regarding the sugar convention, that unless Britain's proposals were accepted, the convention would be broken up. The Australian State? Constitution Bill and Colonial Statutes Bill were read a third time. In the House of Lords the ..Butter Bill was read-a. second, time. Lord Onslow said that it was a greatpity that'the Government had not-seen their ■wav to absolutely and entirely prohibit Ihe" manufacture and sale of milk-blended butter instead of sanctioning a fraud on the purchaser. The board ought to- take greatest care in choosing the name whereunder stuff be sold. There ought to be one generic term for it, then, perhaps, the iieople would know it. was not the genuine, article.