CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS. London.

Manawatu Herald, 19 March 1895, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS. London.

Mr Balfour, replying to a deputation of miners, asking him to Btif). port the Eight Hours Bill, declined to do so* Lord Salisbury Withheld ; nii opinion, saying that he preferred to to see the Bill introduced In tfa« House of Commons first. It i 3 understood that Sir W-rtTi Harcourfc desires to receive the Speakership if no opposition is offerred to his candidature. Sir W. V Harcourt, in the course of some remarks in the Hotujei of Commons, advised members to be careful what they said if they wished to avert bloodshed in Swaziland. Lord Ripon has declined to guarantee the Newfoundland loan, but ia arranging to send a commission to the colony to enquire into the distressed condition of the people, and also offers to supply public funds to assist in relieving poverty. Mr Nelson says the meat imports during the last decade have doubled, but the English farmers havt not been injured, as the price ol theiy mutton haa doubled. New Zealand will find it necessary, in the face of the competition, to establish new outlets in the provinces. Colonial boot buyers are limiting their orders, fearing that they may be interfered with by the strike. A protracted struggle is expected. There is no hope at present of settling the strike. The masters have issued a manifesto, in which they state that they are arranging to form a non-Union benefit society, and intend to support it by large subscriptions. They also offer to re-employ Unionist strikers if they agree to become non-union-ists. New Zealand mutton— First quality, 3£d ; second, 2|d. Lamb averages 4£d ; finest, 6£d. New Zealand hemp is unchanged. New Zealand long^berried wheat 25s 6d ; Adelaide wheat, quiet, 265 ; Victorian, steady, 265. The Maflzu's cargo of Victorian wheat sold at 28s 10£ d, and 6500 quarters of Viotorian wheat loading at 245. A good catalogue of wool was offered on the 15th instant. Bidding wag spirited, and prio«B are hardening. British and Continental buyers are operating largely. Howard Vincent's motion affirming the principle of Fair Trade waa rejected by a 8 to 1 majority. In the House of Commons, Mr J. W. Lowther said that all selfgoverned portions of the Empire except Great Britain and New South Wales had declared in favour of Protection, and that it was necessary to grant the colonies reciprocal powers. The Times says Mr Campbell Bannerman is willing to be nominated to the Speakership. Lord Salisbury, in his reply to the deputation of miners who sought his views regarding the Eight Hours Bill, said the House of Commons was the proper place in which to initiate the Miners' Eight Hours Bill, and meanwhile it was idle to forecast what view the Upper House might take of it. His party desired to see a peaceful solution of the question. Lord Rosebery and Mr Asquith have both refused to receive a deputation of miners with reference to the Eight Hours Bill. The Egyptian Ministry has approved Sir John Gorgt'a scheme for regulating the duties and power* of Bheiks in accordance with Nubar Pasha's policy. This is regarded aa a triumph for British rule in Egypt. In the House of Commone, Mr Arnold Morley, Postmaßter«Gene.ral, mentioned that the Government jbad not moved in the matter of establishing penny postage to the British colonies because several of the larger and more important colonies were opposed to the proposal. A section of the boot strikers offered to accept machinery pitct* work based on the quantity of tht output, but the masters refused. Two hundred thousand boot operatives are now out on strike in England. The boot strike affects half ft million employees, including women and apprentices. The majority of factories have arranged to close for six weeks. Some of the owners are barricading windows and doors in antioipa* tion ot an attack being made on the buildings. The Union Reserve Fund amounts to £60,000.