Opening of the British Parliament.

Manawatu Herald, 18 February 1905, Page 3

Opening of the British Parliament.

THE FISCAL PROBLEM.

SOME NOTABLE SPEECHES.

LONDON, Feb. 15.

K : ng Edward, in bis speech _at toe opening of the Imperial Parliament, said the Scottish Church dispute was a matter requiting legislative intervenfion, and the report of the Commissioners who were recently ap pointed to investigate would enable Parliament to frame proposals tending towards the promotion of peace and goodwill. In forecasting the proposed work of the session, his Majesty said proposals would be submitted with the object of diminishing existing anomalies in re gard to electoral areas. Bills would be brought down dealing with the question of alien immigration, also for providing permanent machinery to deal \vith the unemployed problem-. His Majesty remarked tlVttt he had noticed with profound regret and Sympathy _ the Monomial distress during the winter through Wknt of employment. Mr H. H. Asquith moved in the House of Commons that as the various aspects of the fiscal question have been fully discussed during the last two years, the time has come for submitting the issue to the people without further delay. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, leader of the Opposition, in commencing the debate on the Address-in-Reply, paid a tribute to the memory of the late Sir William Harcourt. Sir Henry then declared that the fiscal question overshadowed everything else. The country was still groping in the dark respecting Mr Balfour’s policy. The Opposition had pressed him for a candid declaration. He intended to ask the House to express the opinion that it should be freed as soon as possible from the confusion resulting from metaphysical sophistications. The speaker applauded Lord Lansdowne’s action in regard to the Dogger Bank outrage. The Opposition leader asked for an opportunity to discuss the question of constitutional changes in the Transvaal. The programme of legislation proposed was, he declared, largely sham, In the Hones of Commons the Premier, the Hon. A, J. Balfour, eulogised the late Sir W. V. Harcourt. He denied that his Government were pursuing a provocative policy in Afghanistan. The Chinese labour experiment was being carefully watched, and if any evil resulted it would not be extended. Up to the present both white and Kaffir labour had increased since the importation ot Chinese. He twitted the Opposition on entertaining views on the question of sugar bounties which were irreconcilable with freetrade, and ridiculed the contention that they ought to appeal to the country while the Government was quite strong enough to be effective. The late Hon. W. E. Gladstone had affirmed that it was a bad precedent to resign because bye elections were unfavourable, Mr Balfour declared that he had honestly tried to explicitly define 'his fiscal position. He had honestly tried to tell the country their policy on the education, licensing, Chinese labour, and the Home Rule questions ? , The Times says the Government will probably submit resolutions relative to the advisability of a redistribution and will appoint a commission to submit a scheme for new boundaries as the basis of a bill next session.

In the House of Lords the Address-in-Reply was agreed to after a brief debate.

Earl Spencer complimented the Marquis of Lansdowne upon his prudence and patience in dealing with the questions arising out of the war. But he criticised adversely the proposals of the Minister of Commerce Industry and the redistribution, a postponement of the dissolution being indefensible, and intended to prolong the Government’s life.

The Marquis of Lansdowne said the Government were anxious to avail themselves of any opportunity ta.end the war, but intervention might be fraught with the worst possible consequences and retard the desired consummation. He referred to the North Sea incident as an occasion when Britain was in danger ot being drawn into the vortex of war. The Powers had agreed to introduce wider reforms in Macedonia. He said the Redistribution Bill might be passed next session.

Lord Goschen complained that there was no reference to the fiscal policy, and he indicated his intention to raise the question himself.