BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8745, 20 February 1907, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

The* House of Lords. Press Association. —Copyright. London, February 19. In the House of GommonSj Mr J. W. Hill’s amendment to the Ad- ■ clvess-in-reply, regretting that the King’s Speech did not mention the Colonial Conference, was postponed, Earl Percy moved an amendment, regretting - that social legislation, which the Government declared was urgent, should be postponed for the purpose of effecting revolutionary changes in Parliamentary control over the United Kingdom, and in the constitutional relations of the two Houses. Ho quoted speeches of Ministers, wherein , they pledged themselves at the elections against Home Rule, notably Mr Haldane, and contrasted them with Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman’s recent definition of the larger policy, that it makes no difference whatever in the proper sense of the word in the solidity of the Empire that the Irish should have what every self-govern-ing colony has—the power of managing their own affairs. That meant the control of the army, the police, the judiciary and their? own taxes and customs. This was Home Hule in a far wider sense than Mr Gladstone’s If it was .the deliberate view of the Government that they are at liberty to introduce legislation, pointing to such ultimate goal, they sat on the Treasury Benches under pretences. Regarding the House of Lords, the only hint of the Government’s intentions was they suggested limitation by veto for one seSsion. That was a single chamber in disguise. Mx- Asquith twitted the Opposition with having no inkling of what the Government’s measures were, yet condemning them beforehand. He rebutted as slander the charges of false pretences. He reiterated his declaration that the dominating

issue at the elections was Freetrade, therefore the introduction or passing of Home Rule was out of the question for this Parliament, but he adhered to his speech, delivered at Saint Leonard’s, in March, 1902, regarding the extension of local government to Ireland. Mr Asquith, continuing, with great deliberation, declared that, if the Government’s scheme contained anything in letter or spirit inconsistent with his declarations, he would instantly resign. He added, amid Irish cheers, that, if owing to clumsy taunts about Home Rule the Government attempted to shelve the i Irish question, they had, indeed, i sunk to the lowest depths of cowardice and political dishonesty. Mr Balfour spoke at length. He - asked if it is intended to give an instalment of Home Rule why make two bites at a cherry ? He. was warmly cheered hy his own side for ’ asserting in reply to one of Mr • Asquith’s incidental suggestions, that ■ he never, directly or indirectly, coni sented to any form of devolution. > Mr Birre'l described the House of ’ Lords as a Tory pocket borough. : Earl Percy’s*motion was negatived ’ hy 374 to 111. s Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman was I absent owing to a severe cold. . The Times, commenting on Lord Percy’s to the I says that Me Asquith might have' • quoted from his own speeches more r definite declarations, which would • have put a different complexion on • the matter, notably those made at L Sheffield on January 5, and at St. | Monans on January 25, 1906. [ An Ambassador’s Salary. 3 London, Febsuary 19. ' lu tho House of Commons Mr 7 Pvunciman, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, stated that Mr Bryce’s 7 salary as Ambassador to Washington • was £IO,OOO per annum. ; Tha Whisky FraudSi ; Mr Asquith announced that the b Inland Revenue Department was in i possession of information suggesting 3 extensive irregularities in connection 8 with dealings in spirits at Tullamore. » Proceedings will be instituted and a : Court of Law would investigate the whole matter. , The-Risk of Invasion--3 A disturbing debate occurred in the i House of Lords relative to the risk of e invasion. Lord Roberts declared that the blindness of the public to - the risk of sudden invasion, which e was almost always carried out with--1 out any declaration of war, filled him c with absolute despair at Britain’s r state of unpreparedness. 0 The Earl of Portsmouth expressed P doubt that Germany or Franco in time of peace would over be guilty of such gross treachery, e Lord Roberts thought it possible. 0 Lord Twoedmouth deprecated alar- ® mist hypothises. 1 Bye-Election. e s. London, February 19. P The Banffshire bye-electidh, to fill the s vacancy through Mr A. W. Black being ’ killed in the Arbroath railway accident, . resulted.- —"Waring (Liberal) 3901, Wh itoe law (Unionist) 1,892.