IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10104, 16 March 1911, Page 2

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

NORTH LOUTH ELECTION. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 16, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, March 15. Mr T. M. Healy has withdrawn his candidature for North Louth, the elec tion for which was upset on the ground of corrupt practices and bribery. Mr Hazelton, who defeated Mr Healy; was not personally implicated. Mr Healy now says, in effect, that if disturbances are promoted the candidate in whose interest" the objectionable tactics are adopted will not be affected unless direct proof of his implication is forthcoming, and in the circumstances he will not again contest the seat. MR A. ROCHE ELECTED. Mr A. Roche,, Nationalist, who was bottom of the poll for Cork City at the last election,, has been elected unopposed for North Louth. A LITTLE NAVY MOTION. (Received March 16, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, March 15. Mr H. B. Lees Smith, Liberal member for Northampton, has given notice of motion that Mr M'Kenna, First Lord of the Admiralty, was guilty of a breach of the confidence of the House of Commons in having four contingent Dreadnoughts laid down. LAN HAMILTON ATTACKED. A BITTER CRITIC. General Pole Carew, Unionist member for Bodmin, attacked General lan Hamilton's book on " Compulsory Service." He said that he had had considerable experience of Sir lan Hamilton, and the book was like him, being flighty and unreliable, and it had been written chiefly to sell and for advertisement and incidentally for the satisfaction of the Minister of War. Mr Haldane indignantly protested that the book had not been written to order, and said that Sir lan Hamilton's chivalry was above anything of that sort. THE ARMY REPORT. The Army Report for 1910 shows that there were 7403 fewer recruits to the regular force than in 1909 and 7503 fewer special reservists.

COLONIAL CONTROVERSY QUOTED. THE QUEENSLAND DEADLOCK OP 1907. Questioned by Mr Neville, Unionist member for Wigan, as to whether the Government approved of Lord Chelmsford's refusal to remove the deadlock in Queensland in 1907 by swarnping the Upper House, on the ground that the question should be submitted to a general election, Mr L. Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies, refused to reply, saying that he did not think the House of Commons was entitled to Lord Chelmsford's confidential communications.