IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7742, 18 February 1905, Page 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THK LORDS. MR CHAMIIKRLAINS POSITION" AND OPINIONS. (Received Feb. 17. 9.17 p.m.) LONDON, Foil. 17. Lord Onslow hai accepted the Chairmanship of the Lords. The Hight Hon. H. H. Avail's amendment on the Addres-;-in-Keply was negatived by 311 to 2IS. The R%lit Hon. Joseph Chamberlain said that personally he thought the sooner there was a dissolution the better. He denied the right or' tlx; minority to demand a dissolution for' ch-iidi *h fantastic reasons, which, if in ofl'ce, they wouli neve." recognise themselves. He hoped the Government would never abandon their trust .simply because the Opposition do;ired oilier.'. It .\;ifr a new -doctrine to ask a dissolution because of the unofficial proposals of a private member, whiqh had not teen fully discussed. On no point of principle did he differ from the Premier. The Colonial CoMeu-nce must meet without restraint and hj was confident the colonies hail a great deal to offer. He never pretended to offer concessions- mi'iss '-ihire was a return of reciprocal treatmerit:*** SpeaEing on the amendment, Lord Hugh Cecil said he was convinced that tbe nation would never accept a preferential arrangement with the colonies based on the taxation of food. The very idea of bargaining with the colonies was disruptive. The Government's failure to disclose their whole mind was assisting to drive Free Traders from Parliament. He did not bcCicve the present time a favourable one to suggest that the colonies -should make great commercial financial concessions to the motherland, or that such was the beat way io promote Imperial unity. Freetrade was not threatened b.v the continuance of tbe Government in office. He thought, howeven. that if the Government spent another session ' linking the opportunity of Parliamentary debate on the whole subject rreetrade mi.u'lit sufTer.

(ReceivWl Feb. 17, 10.« p m) LONDON, Fe|) 17 Hie I niorfi.'.tE voted against the Government, and four attained, int whns I-oixl Hugh Cecil and :;j r Sixt - v - f ' Nationalists voted »iih the minority. The oniiilon in the lobbies is that the Government is safe for (lie session.