IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 57, 11 March 1904, Page 2

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

ANTI-PREFERENCE MOTION DEFEATED, GOVERNMENT INTENTION'S REGARDING "J)l')II'lN(l.'i (Received March 10, 11.11) p.m.) LONDON, Murch 10. J» tin' House of Commons Caption . Pirie, member for North Abei'deen, i mouil that tlio House, noting that jtlif l'recpieiit iiiid continued udvuciicy ,nf ii policy of u preferential protcc-* | live tariff is encouraged by Hie lan--1 gunge used by certain Ministers, j deems it necessary (u express conI deiuimlion of such u policy, Tin- motion was rejected bv 289 vines tu ii-I-l."

The minority included Nationalists, Liberals, Ivord George Jluinilton, Lord Hugh Cecil, Sir J. S. Simeon, .Messrs Ritchie, Winston Cliurchill,' Howies, Austin Tuylor, and twelve, oilier rniom'st Free-fooders.

Right lion. .1. 1,. Wharton endeavoured to frame an amendment approving and defining the Government's policy, but withdrew it when i» special meeting of C'hnmberlainites showed that fifty of them intended to abstain from voting, on. the ground Unit tiie motion was practically aimed at Mr Chamberlain. '

Mr llalfour, in the debate, indicati ell the Government\s adherence to die policy out lined in his Sheffield speeches, it was the intention at the next election to seek retaliatory power to meet foreign negotiations on un equality, and the adoption of arrangements to ileal with 'dunining" by a scale of fees. THE AIiMV ESTIMATES. (Received March 10, midnight.) LONDON, March 10.' in the House of Commons, during the discussion on the Army Estimates, the itight Hon. H. 0. ArnoldForstcr, introducing the vote providing for a standing army of 227,000 ollicers and men, replied to Sir Henry Cumpbell-liannermun's censure ot Lord Esher's War Commission's views and libs plea for the postponement of the vote.

Sir Henry Cnmpbell-Bannerman said the Government's project was intended to remove the sensation caused by the War Commission's re-, port. The Estimates were illusory, not representing the future policy in regard to the army. Since 1890 the army hud cost fifty per cent, more, but only thirty-three per cent, ""had been udded to tho forces. The country did not contemplate that such an insufferable burden would bo permanent. The country, lie said, was sick of war, and sick of a policy of conquest and adventure. The House must look forward to the withdrawal of the garrison in South Africa, whose maintenance was an expense to the British taxpayer and a new departure established under, this policy. He concluded by asking what army Lord Milner demanded foe South Africa.