BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9088, 6 March 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

MERCHANT: SHIPPING ACT. Press Association —Copyright. Received March 5, 115. p.m. London, Mach 5. In the House of Commons, Mr O. Fenwick ..moved the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire as to whether the Merchant Shipping Act is sufficient to enable the Board of prevent abuses arising out of the employment of Chinese in the British mercantile marine. Mr H. E. Kearley admitted that the employment of Chinese had increased. Marine superintendents believed that recent legislation was likely to -accelerate that tendency. The Board of Trade would nip in the bud abuses which threatened to defeat the objects of the Act. The motion was then withdrawn.

THE PREMIERS’ HEALTH. King Edward visited Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, and remained with him nearly an hour. The Daily Chronicle reports that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman insists that he will resign if he is unable to return to the House of Commons by Easter. At present the doctors hold out little hope that he will be able to do so.

A TARIFF SKIRMISH. PROPOSED DUTY ON WHEaT. Received March 6, 9.8 a.m. London, March 5. In the House of Commons, Sir J. F. Leese moved that, as the high price of bread was due to natural causes, levying an import duty on wheat, would aggravate the suffering caused by dear.bread. Mr Golding, moved an amendment declaring that the high price was due to natural causes and the neglect of British resources. The mover expressed the opinion that a re-arrange-ment of duties on food products, with a view to the encouragement of agriculture at Home, and to giving preference to the Colonies, would be stimulating to the productive power of the Empire. He censured Government for refusing to stimulate the production of wheat, within the Empire, by granting the Colonies a preference. Mr Lloyd George said Germany was supplying sufficient -warning against the adoption of the amendment. There an 11s duty was paid on all imported wheat, and the same duty was paid upon German home grown wheat. Mr Golding’s amendment was rejected by 293 to 9D. The debate was adjourned.