IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8061, 16 March 1906, Page 2

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

LABOR PARTY SPLIT. TRANSVAAL MINE SHARES.

London, March 11. Owing to Mr Kcir Hardio's independent attitude, a movement is afoot to draw closer political kinship between tho Government and the old Labor Party. The promoters assert that the ■ Liberal leaders favor a separate organi- ' satiou, representing Liberal and Labor '■ Commoners, and promise substantial financial support to help an increase of numbers at next election, hoping to '• create a Labor Party within the Liberal Party. Tho promoters will not attempt an alliance with Mr Hardio's group. Lord Elgin, Secretary for the Colonies, in reply to a question, said shares in the Transvaal mines were speculative and subject to considerable fluctuations. Their depreciation had been constant during the past two years, and had become pronounced since the importation of Chinese. WELSH DISESTABLISHMENT BILL. FLOGGING COOLIES. INQUIRY TO BE ASKED FOR. Received 15, 9.41 p.m. London, March 15. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerinan is adhering to his promise to introduce Welsh disestablishment at the first available opportunity. Samuel Evans withdraws his intended Suspensary Bill, which the Government on technical grounds wore unable to support. Mr Gladstone announced that licensing reform would bo dealt with next session. He had no statement to make regarding the date of introduction of the Welsh Disestablishment Bill. Winston Churchill intended to ask . Lord Elgin to'inquire into the extent 1 coolies have been illegally Hogged by . an abuse of Lord Milncr's Oral pcrmis--1 sion to inflict slight corporal punishf ment as practised in the public schools . in England. Milner's sanction of punishment without seeing that instructions were not exceeded, constituted a grave dorcliction of duty. , CHINESE LABOR QUESTION. TERMINATION OF EXISTING ORDINANCE. 1 , "GOVERNMENT'S HYBRID POLICY." Received 15, 10.14- p.m. London, March 15. Mr Chamberlain asked whether the I Premier would advise the King to appoiut a Royal Commission of a judical s character to examine and report on the working of indentured labor on the Rand, the allegations or certain Minisb ters on tlio system of slavery or semi--1 slavery, aud also inquire into the aci cusations of general cruelty and torture inflicted by Britishers on coolies, and, if proved, to roport the names of persons I concerned, and advise measures to prevent the possibility of proceedings, so , injurious to Britain's honor. , Sir H. Canipbell-Baimerman: " No, . Sir. We have no such intention." Mr Secley afterwards raised a de . bale on coolie labor. , Winston Churchill explained thai he I intended, after licenses to immigrants had worked out in June or July, to throw the recruitment out of gear. Consuls would be ordered to resume functions heretofore delegated to agents of the Transvaal Immigration Association, and not to participate in further recruitments until instructed from Home. Winston Churchill continuing, said that once Transvaal became selfgoverning, the Motherland would lix a date to terminate the existing labor ordinance, and would consider the Transvaal's fresh proposals. Government would decidedly veto the proposals, if necessary, 110 matter how great the majority supporting themHe thought there was a chance of the Transvaal framing acceptable proposals, but It was not at all a good one. Ho expressed the opinion that a gradual repatriation of coolies would not injure, intrinsically, valuable mines. The rearrangements might attract the natives. He then compared the conditions at Ivonhoe, West Australia, with the Rand, and hoped to see the hitler more largely worked by whites. Mr Balfour protested at the hybrid policy of conferring on the Transvaal self-government, aud then tolling the people that as regards their greatest industry, they are not masters of their own house. Mr Chamberlain said there was strong feeling in the Colonies against cheap labor, but there was a stronger one against outside interference, which in this case was unjustifiable. Mr Ridsdale warned the party that it was courting the greatest disaster. i Mr Markham urged the Government ] to send a Commission to decide whether whites were able to work the mines. THE RECRUITING PROCEDURE. GOVERNMENT POLICY. FAIR TRIAL FOR ALIEN'S ACT. 1 Received 15,10.37 p.m. ] London, March 15. s Sir Edward Grey, secretary for Home Affairs, interposing, explained thai China would not permit recruiting without some guarantee that the conditions would be properly observed, and she would seek such guarantees from the Consuls. The latter, after June «ill ' not be allowed to help the Colony's ( | policy, except under proper conditions, t! He did not believe, when the Trausvaa' had responsible Government, there would be any mural conflict between the self-governing Colony and the Motherland. Mr Secley expressed himself satis- ? lied. l Mr Herbert Gladstone promised Evaus Gordon that he would give the Aliens Act 11 fair trial, and .see ii was *] administered with reasonable humanity., h.