British Politics.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7740, 16 February 1905, Page 3

British Politics.

PARLIAMENT OPENED WITH HRILLIANT CEREMONIES. SPEECH FROM THE THRONE^ FOREKiN RELATION'S FRIENDLY. LONDON, Feb. 15. The opening of Parliament took place to-dayj . with brilliant ceremony. The King niet with an enthnsiaslic popular reception. - The Speech from the Throne stated that all the Empire's foreign relations were friendly, and that in the troubles existing between other Powers the strictest neutrality had been observed. Though the condition of the Balkan States had been considerably ameliorated during the past year, there was still some cause for anxiety.

The J Anglo-French Contention would, it was hoped, strengthen the friendly relations existing between the two countries. In reference to the North Sea Commission, confidence was expressed that the responsibility for the deplorable incident which had necessitated an appeal to that tribunal would be duly apportioned. Stejs towards the establishment of a representative constitutional government in the Transvaal were receiving the earnest consideration of the Government, and it was hoped that the result would be substantial progress towards the ultimate goal it' complete self-government. The difficulties encountered in the course of the mission to Thibet had been brilliantly surmounted, and had resulted in the placing of our relations with that country on a satisfactory footing. It was also announced that Chinu had sent a commission to Calcutta to negotiate a convention of adhesion to the AngloThibeUtn agreement. The Speech I continued by stating that the Scottish Church question required legislative intervention, and

that the I Commissioners' report would enable , Parliament to frame j . proposals tending to the promotion ' of peace and goodwill. | Proposals would be submitted to the House for diminishing the anom- | ulies at present existing in the elec- , toral areas. j Hills would also be brought down by the Government to regulate the , influx of aliens, and to provide per- j manent machinery for tdeuling with j ihe unemployed. In this connection ; the "Speech noticed with profound re- j jrret and sympathy the abnormal dis- \ tress existing during the present winter throughout the country, which was chiefly due to want of employment. There were also references to Scottish education measures, to an extension of the Workmen's Compensation Act, to the improvement of the statutes concerning local government and the Board of Trude, to the establishment of a. Ministry of Commerce and Indusfty, to the renewal of agricultural rates, and to a measure for the prevention of butter adulteration. FIRST MOVE ON THK FISCAL ISSUE. LONDON. Fell. J 5 The Right Hon. 11. H. Asquith today moved that as the various aspects of the fiscal question had been fully discussed during the last two years, the time had come for submitting tha issue to the people without further -delay. (Received Feb. 15, 11.24 p.in.) LONDON, Feb. 15. The Bight Hon. Sir H. CaniphellIlannerman, after a tribute to the Right Hon. \\. Vernon Harcourt, declared the liscal quest ion overshadowed everything else. The country was still groping in the dark respecting Mr Balfour's policy. The Opposition pressed him for a candid declaration, ami intended to ask the House to express an opinion that it should be freed as soon as possible from the confusion resulting from the Premier's metaphysical sophistications. Since the country had expressed an opinion unequivocably, ihe Premier's contention that the Oovcrauient was entitled to remain in Office, while holding a Parliamentary majority, was unconstitutional and ill-aUvised. The Opposition held the Government's policy to be the same as the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain's. He caustically criticised the results of the Sugar Convention, calling it a microcosm of the Government's financial policy. He applauded Lord Lansdowne's action regarding the Dogger Hank incident, and asked an opportunity to »fis cuss Unconstitutional changes in the proposed Transvaal legislation.