BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7797, 13 April 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FISCAL pSfflH. DEBATED IN THE LOBDS. {Received April 12, 10.58 p.m.) LONDON. April 13. In the House of Lords, Lord Dal. four oi Burleigh moved a resolution questioning the Government'* action relative to the Colonial Conference. und insisting on full information as io whither it will be an ordinary free, unlettered conference or held too t special purpose.

The Duke of Marlborough rdteratr •d Mr Balfour's pubMe declarations, uid declared that the conference was roc und unfettered, and would * be isked to discus* whether the idea of closer union on a commercial or any jthcr basis commended UmU, and It .(>, in whui preciNb manner It could ibe carriud into effect. Hie delegate* 'would communicate the result*ofUs* conference to the Colonial Governtuents. Tiie scheme was not considered bindiug on Great Britain, until I submitted to the elector*.

There was an animated debate, «J----though Lord Chancellor Hatsburjr denounced it* unreality. Lord James of Hereford said * was unfair to bring colonial repre* scntatives to London under fat** pre* i tences.

Lord Lansdowue said U was one* less to ask the colonies to abandon ideas on which their financial uxt J industrial system was constructed* "Unless the colonies ask us to adopt the system of protection,"- ha sa.M (

"the conference would consider whs* thcr these limitations were possible) and would devise a mutual arrange* ment beneficial to the Empire as a, whole." '

Viscount Goschen sarCdstietUy coin gratulatad the Government o* Mtf* ring the recanting ol the fiscal •}»■ tern until after two elections.

Lord Roscbcry said lb* conference wan a mere red herring across lto~ Chambcrlara's inconvenient path. The motion was negatived witawt a division.

THE TEA DUTY* (Received April 18, 0.34 ft.u>.) LONDON, -April 13. Mr Hroadmirst's amaadMßt in i*» vour of reducing the tea duty to4di was rejected by 2*9 voles U> 1»*. The duty* «""» fl*od »* M ** *"' votes to lfle*