BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8012, 26 December 1905, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

NATIONALISTS CONFIDENT OP HOME RULE. CHINESE ON THE BAND, Rcccivod 26,11.3 p.m. London, December 23. The Nationalists accept Sir Henity Campbell Banuerman's pronouncement as a definite pledge of Homo Rule. " Tl« Times" says that comparison of Sir H. Campbcll-Banucrman's statement and Lord Elgin's despatcli led tie Stoek Exchange to beliove the Governnent intend placing the matter in the hands of the inhabitants of tho Transvaal. Those interested in mining confidently prodict that if this is done the importation of Chinese will bo largely endorsed.

THE CHINESE COOLIE QUESTION CURRENT OPINION. London, Decomber 23. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's remarks at the Albert Hall that the Government had decided to stop, forthwith, as far as practicable, the recruitment and embarkation of coolies from China for importation into South Africa, is interpreted in somo circles as-' not intended to interfere with the' permits for (landing 11,800 additional Chinamen.

Many members of the Stock Exchange attribute the suspension of importation of coolies to the exigencies of the Liberals as regards their position at tlic general election. The "Times' " Johannesburg correspondent says that Sir H. CampbellBannerman and Lord Elgin did not mention permits, but that these 11,800 coolies will enable the mining industry to continue comfortably pending the formal decision of the inhabitants, which will be the same whether under a representative or a responsible Government. If the Governor is compelled to repudiate the permits, the Home Government will be mulcted in half-a-million for compensation, but the situation here wfll become genuinely serious. The writer adds, that if the permits are allowed to hold good no harm will be done.

Johannesburg remains calm, for the good reason that it knows more on the subject than the thousands who were cheering at the Albert Hall.