BRITISH POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1400, 10 March 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

’ ©IPHRIAK PARLIAMENT,

By Electric Telegraph—Per Press (Per Press Association.) fjQNDO,N t March 8. ;

Uorfd Hugh Cecily in'reply to a corrcspfojjjdent, declared his opinion’ (that Mr Balfour’s and Mr Chainiberlain’a policies were quite distinct) and in some respects irreconcilable. (Tire lOfovernment moivesi the previous question to Mr Churchill's motion, (that a preferential system involving taxation of food will not secure permanent union of the -Empire. Reoeived 10.19 p.m., March 9, London, March 9. Earl Spencer, at "Wandworth, declared Mr Wyndhatn’s discovery of the necessity for an advance by devolution, or some other ohange, was a striking justification of Mr Gladstone’s view of the impossibility of continuing coercion and the necessity for conceding some measure of selfgovernment.

Received 10.29 p.m., March 9. In the House of Commons the form in which “ the previous question ” was movod by the Government precluded a direct vote upon Churchill's motion cabled on February 24th. Members consequently were treated to a division as if upon the main question. Two hundred and sixty voted,for Mr Churchill’s motion and 303 for the previous question. The supporters of Mr Churchill included Lord Hamilton and 14 other free-food Unionists, and 65 Irish Nationalists. Several, including Lord Hugh Cecil, abstained from voting. Four voted with the Govrenment.

Mr Lyttelton protested against discussion and obstruction. He said the Government wished to ascertain in a businesslike spirit tho Colonial proposals, and discuss them with an unbiassed mind, Churchill’s motion was intended to mislead tho unwary, to obscure and not elioil the truth.

Mr Chamberlain, defending the Government’s attitude, declared the effect of the motion was to muzzle the Colonial Conference.

Mr Balfour reiterated that he was op posed to the protective taxation of food.