IMPERIAL POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13844, 4 March 1909, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

TARIFF REFORM. ; Press Association-Bv Telegraph-Copvriglit " LONDON, March 2. Sir , Acland Hood, addressing a Tariff Reform gathering at St. Stephens, deprecated Unionist Free Tracers appealing to the cbnstituencies on the /basis that 'they -. would offer themselves - for re-election if unable to support n Tariff Reform budget. The better course, would be to stand down altogether from a general election. The Associated : Chambers ol Commerce of the United Kingdom, by. 46 to' 31, witli ! 32 members neutral, passed a resolution in favour of tariff reform.

THE CO'Olv ISLANDS. Received 9.50 p.m., March 3rd. LONDON, March 3. Colonel Seely (Colbnial Office), in .replying to Mr W. Anstruther Gray, said tliat there was no resort of an attempt by tlife Natives .to haul do\vn tive British flag tit'the Coolc; Islands. The New . Zealand .Government had. ample port'er to deal with disturbances.

THE ARMY. v LONDON, March 3. In reply to a question by Radical members, Mr Haldaiie, Minister; of War, heartilv -approved of the Alliance Assurance Company's announcement tliat .new- _clerlcs; will be obliged to join' the Territorial Army before they are ..engaged.! ' . Mr E. W. Jowett (Bradford), on behalf of the Labour Party,; gave notice of a motirin condemning Mr Haldaiie oil the ground that the Alliance's action was a specious form of conscription .

Mr Haldane, siieaki'ng at Newcastle, foreshadowed the creation of an army comparable in size to those of. the great military Powers. The- reforms would merely -give effect to :th'e - resolutions of the Imperial Conference, and give a proper organisation to existing citizens' .corps.

TARIFF. REFORM VICTORY. Received .11.10 p.m., March 3rd. LONDON, ; March 3, The election' for Central Glasgow re : suited as follows: —, Scott Dickson 7298 Bowles ... 5185 ;

Air Bowles kept the question of freetrade 'predominant.- The Glasgow* "jHeraldj" sinking the fiscal issue, supported Mr. .Dickson. The " Daily News" and " Chronicle " - claim that the seat was won when, free Irade was in danger and re'vertecl t'o To'ryisth when free trade liad a majority of. 300. The Opposition are jubilant, as it is this first victory for tariff reform in Scotland since the general election. [At the election ill 1906, Sir A. AI. Torrance (L.) polled 6720,; defeating the sitting member, Air John fJ. A: P.aird (C.) G289.]

HOSTILE AMENDMENT DEFEATED

ATTACK BY LABOim

Received 11.30 p..m. > March 3rd. LONDON, March 3

A Nationalist motion condemning the Government for ttsihg a statute "of King Edward 111. for the . conviction of Mr Earrell, was defeated by 142 votes to 18 votes.

The Labour -members sharply attacked Sir Burns "ftir liis aclinTiiistra-"tioh-of the tTneiiijp.lpyment Act, alleging that it was 'ungenerous. IVfr Piclcersgiil thought that the women workers of Loii'dtin wei'e hot fairly dealt with compared with the men.

Mr Burns justified his action in not sanctioning a farm colorty for Women. It was useless to transfer charwomen at a cost of £2OO a piece and teach them market-"gardening. He made grants and sanctioned. loans wherever he was satisfied they Vere necessary.