BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7935, 8 January 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

COLONIAL AFFAIRS. TOE CHINESE QUESTION. i received January G, 8.35 a.m. LONDON, January 5. In tho course of his speech at Manchester Mr Winston Ohurcbill said a Colonial Conference would throw insfcruativo light on many questions of Imperial importance outside fiscal matters. Tho Government intended to grant the Transvaal a really representative democratic Assembly as soeedily as possible. Lord Elgin had forbidden the granting of further licenses to import Chinese, but miuo-owuers had been given to understand that the eleven thousand already nominated would be admitted. That would bo sufficient to supply tho Rand for two years. Mr Johu Burn?, President of the Local Government Board, in tho course of an election address, said immediate responsible Government roust be conferred on South Africa to avert economic desolation, and perhaps disloyalty. Chinese labour, he added, was unnecessary in its present form. A newspaper in South Africa understands that Lord Selborne, High Commissioner for South Africa, cabled that he would resign unless his signature to the pending contracts for the importation of Chinese wa<* honoured. The paper adds that Lord Elgin, Secretary of State for the Colonies, agreed to the fulfilment of the contracts. MR CHAMBERLAIN'S MEETING. Received January 6, 7.42 a.m. LONDON, January 5. The rowdyism at Mr Chamberlain's meeting was due to the crush in the Drill Hall, many in the rear of the building being unable to hear the speaker. The Liberal newspapers join the Unionist journals in regretting tbe disoourtesyof the roughs towards Mr Chamberlain. A resolution favouring fiscal reform was oarried by a vast majority. MR JOHN MORLEY'S VIEWS. Received January 7, 4.47 p.m. LONDON, January 6. Mr John Morley, Secretary of State for India, speaking at Arbroath, declared that the civil power in India must indisputably be supreme over the military. No reform machinery for Irish government will be found a permanently effective or successful substitute for a policy of an elected representative authority with powers and functions defined by Parliament. This, however, would not prevent him from co-operating to secure the more limited reforms not incompatible with the above.

THE RIGHT HON. JOHN MORLEY, Secretary of State, India Department. MR JOHN BURNS. A PRETTY BIG PROGRAMME. Received January 7, 4.50 p.m. LONDON, January 6. Mr John Burns, advocates the abolition of the House of Lords and all hereditary authorities. Ho describes Lords Milner and Selborne as mere registrars of decrees of sordid, pushful colonial capitalists. He opposes fall coolie indentured or contract coloured labour, and advocates legislative independence for Ireland in Irish affairs. UNRULY MEETINGS. EX-PREMIER HECKLED. MR GERALD BLAB'OUR HOWLED DOWN. Received January 7, 4.35 p.m. LONDON, January 6. Polling for the city electorate has been fixed for the 16th inst. Mr Balfour, addressing a meeting at Ardwiok, spoke with great diffl - culty amid a constant fire of interruptions and disorderly noises. He expressed the hope that they wore not imitating the treatment of Mr Chamberlain at Derby. He proceeded to express his opinion that tbe Go-_ vernment had not the slightest in_ tention of abolishing Chinese la" bour, and ho concluded by unfolding his retaliation policy. A motion of confidence was carried by a large majority. Mr Gerald Balfour was howled down at a meeting fin tbe Jewish quarter at Leeds. This action was largely owing to the Aliens Act.

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