Imperial Parliament.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7741, 17 February 1905, Page 3

Imperial Parliament.

THE ITU HE MINISTER'S SPEECH. LONDON, Feb. 15. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour denied that the Government was pur-! suing a provocative policy in Afghanistan. The Chinese labour experiment was being carefully watched. and if evil resulted it would not lie extended. I'p to th c both white and Kaffir labour had increased since thc importation of Chinese. He twitted the Opposition on entertaining views on the question of thc (j sugar bounties which were irreconcilable with free trade, and ridiculed tho contention that there ought to be an appeal to the country while tho Government was quite strong enough to be effective. Mr Gladstone had affirmed a bad precedent in resigning because bye-elec-tions were Mr Balfour jlcclared that he had honestly tried to explicitly define his fiscal position. Had the Opposition honestly tried to tell the country their policy on thc education, licensing, Chinese laboui, and home rule questions ?

AMENDMENT TO THE ADDRESS- I IN-11EP.LY. (Received Keb. 16, 10 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. I<>. Thi* Right lion. 11. JI. Asquith to-day moved 011 amendment to the Address-in-Reply. In his speech in support of this he characterised the Premier's determination to defer the general election as astonishing, since party government and the policy of 1900 had oil gone, and bye-elec-tions had expressed the country's discontent. He urged Mr Palfour to abandon his opportunist taciturnity', |and state clearly whether there was any difference between his polio* and that of Mr Chamberlain. Also he asked , that the | Premier would state what he meant exactly by his doctrine of retaliation. The speaker asked if a colonial conference met 'would Pritish representatives be empowered to entertain a scheme involving the taxation of food. The existing intolerable confusion was menacing th« Empire's industry, and couTd only lie removed by a prompt appeal to the people. The controversy could not go qn sjnunering. The real issue was between preference ami nonpreference, between taxation and the free admission of corn and flour and meat. He asked the Premier to let the people decide.

FOKTY A MRN DMKVJ'S TO THE AI>I»UESS-!X-KRPLV. l/I.MIOK, Feb, 10. There are forty amendments to the Address-in-Heply. It is expected that the •debate will end on the 28th. A LAbOLK I'AKTY ORGANISED. LONDON, Feb. J<>. Thirteen Labour members of the House of Commons have organised! a distinct party, with John Htirns as chairman. The party has resolved to proceed with the Trade Disputes and Miners' Eigfot Hours Hills, and to raise the question of payment ol' members' election expenses.