IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4574, 20 February 1893, Page 4

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

[Special to Pbbss Association.! . I LONDON, Feb. 17. It is rumoured in Dublin that the Parnellires and followers of Mr - Justin M'Oarthy are reconciled, and * it is stated that the Independent and , ' Freeman' 8 Journal will amalgamate. In the debate on the Home Rule >f Bill Mr Joseph Chamberlain dwelt • -upon the danger of the Irish taking advantage of England's emergency iv the event of war to extort complete autonomy for Ireland. He ridiculed the retention of Irish members at Westminster, a principle which would prove unworkable. The Bill was read a first time without division, and the second reading was fixed for March Fbb. 28. The Standard asserts that Mr Gladstone intends to propose that membera^o/, .the House of Commons i ; not possessing incomes of =2400 per \ year shall l}e entitled on official appli- j cation to a salary of £300. The] Radicals Oppose the partial scheme, and there is but little prospect of! anything being done in the matter ; ' this session. In the House of Commons the Hon R. Blake, M.P, for Longford, formerly Liberal leader in Canada, in speaking on the Home Eule Bill, said it should be accepted by Irishmen all over the world aa a settle. . : menfc of the difficulty. Mr J. Morley, ,;C?hief Secretary, closed the debate, and protested against everlasting distrust of the Irish. Unionist meetings have been arranged at the principal towns in England and Scotland. Tbe Marquis of Salisbury will speak at Belfast on April 5, and jn Derbyshire on April 7. The P. and 0. Company's steamer Arcadia has conveyed to Suez a battery of artillery suddenly ordered to Egypt. The election for the vacant seat of Hexham in the House of Commons took place to-day, and resulted as follows : — Mr M'lrines, Liberal, 4804; Mr R. Clayton, Conservative (who was returned at the general '©lection, but unseated on the ground of corrupt practice), 4358. The Home Rule Bill has been circulated. The chief points have already been cabled. Twenty-seven Ulster members will be retained at Westminster, and fifteen in the Legislative Council at Dublin. Messrs Johnston (Conservative) and R. Gk Wilberforce (Liberal) have been nominated to represent Horaham in the House of Commons, the vacancy for which was caused by the death of Sir,W. Bartelotfc (Conservative). ' The Agents-General are proposing to accept the Imperial rules respect- ;,'■.■■■' ing volunteer medals. " ' Feb.. 19. The Marquis of Ripon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has promised to ipform the House of Lords as to the effect of the recent additions made to the Legislative Council o£ New Zealand. In tho House o£ Commons Mr Joseph Chamberlain, in his speech on the Home Rule Bill, said the preamble reverently buried the corpse of supremacy, and he would prefer to see a federation of the'tJnited Kingdom.