IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 235, 9 February 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE,

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright, London, February 7.

With the consent of Mr. Asquith the House of Commons referred the matters of Lord Roden's voting in the Down South election and Lord Aberdeen's sending a message to Mr. J. Henderson to the Committee of Privileges.

THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

London, February

In the House of Lords Lord Lansdowne stated that the Declaration of London created grave apprehension in the minds of commercial men. While he welcomed an international court instead of national prize courts, he would like to have a voice in framing the constitution of such a body. The Canadian agreement meant the diminution of opportunities for preference.

Earl Crewe said the Declaration would be discussed at the Imperial Conference, and Parliament would have an opportunity to discuss it before ratification. He had unbounded faith in the loyalty of Canada, and believed that she would do nothing to weaken the ties that bound her to the Empire. The payment of members and the Osborne judgment would be considered this session.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

A SHEAF OF AMENDMENTS,

Received 8, 9.50 p.m. London, February 8.

Twenty of the amendments to the Address-in-Reply relate to the Second Chamber, and others relate to immigration of undesirable aliens, and women's suffrage. Another regrets the absence of proposals to enable the oversea dominions to participate more actively in the general management of the Empire in matters of legislation, administration, and defence. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald raises the unemployment question.

A VITUPERATIVE DEBATE,

PROTESTANTS AND THE PAPAL DECREE. Received 8, 10.40 p.m. London, February 8. The House of Commons continued the debate on the Address-in-Reply. Mr. Campbell (Dublin University) arraigned Mr. Birrcll for his inaction regarding the Papal decree, even refusing to intervene in the case of Mrs. McCann, whose children were taken away because she refused to be re-married in the Catholic Church when the priest alleged that her offspring was illegitimate.

Mr. Birrell said the McCann case was undoubtedly distressing, but the wife's redress was through the civil court. Presbyterian ministers were less interested in the woman than in using the case as an example of what would happen when Ireland secured Home Rule.

A vituperative debate followed between the Irish Unionists and the Nationalists, the latter statin? that Mrs. McCann's had temper was the cause of her husband hiding the ehildrcn.