IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5, 10 May 1913, Page 7

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

THAT SILVER DEAL TO INDIA. [Ly Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 10 a.in.) , ~ London, May 8. A Bill relieving Sir Stuart Samuel j of the- penalties imposed upon him in connection with the sale of silver | to the Indian Office, lias been read a I first time. THE OPIUM TRADE. The Hon. Edwin Montague,' Parliamentary Under-Secretary for India, announced that India this year is not .selling to China an ounce of opium. She was prepared to relinquish a revenue of eleven million by revising the Treaty of 1911, provided China steadfastly extinguished opium-grow-ing. N TRADE COMMISSION’S REPORT. Mr Harcourt announced that he hoped to have the Imperial Trade Commission report ready before the next Imperial Conference. EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS. Mr Henry Page Croft asked Mr : Asquith in the House of Commons | whether the United Kingdom would j follow the Dominions’ example of Hy-1 1 ing flags on Government buildings on (Empire Day. Mr Asquith replied carefully, and , said that the Government consider- j ed they were unable to alter the prac- | tice. There is much comment over Sir 1 William Byle’s previous question in a | sneering manner: “When is Empire Day; what does it celebrate?” and. Colonel Seely’s answer; “I’m not! quite sure— (laughter)—but I think the j date is May 24.” AGRICULTURAL LABORERS. j London, May 9. Mr Lloyd George, in reply to a j question ae to what progress the Land Committee enquiry bad made, said | that agricultural laborers’ conditions j were deplorable. The wages and housing was scandalous. He had a plan which he would outline later, where- . by the serious stream of migration j would he diverted and the surplus j population sof the towns placed on the j land. j ;■■■"■* ■ ■! AN ADVISORY COUNCIL. j In the House of Commons, on a I motion for the adjournment, Mr Page- | court raised the I, question of convert-: ing the' Imperial’ Conference into a permanent advisory council; Mr L. V! Harcbiirt, in ll #/, referred’to Hie Iffliois Af the Commission, and also to the Governments efforts for cheaper cables and direct emigration towards the j Dominions instead of to foreign 'countries’. ’ 'fee' Imperial conference had rejected the Advisory Council, but the Dominions had been admitted ,to the DefehcVCbinmitted,'’ 1 ' 1 # plan which ,{or the present was satisfactory md satisfying, 'if' nlifcht Icid tV mote' rigorous' tits in'Mhe’ future,) tyi he doubted if it cpfilcl possibly; ledd to a closer communion. He ' Vas cOnfident that it had secured solidarity of the Imperial comity and greatly contributed to thV unit? of the BrV .■ ■ , . . .*1 . • • ' ■ tivsn race.