BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7970, 22 February 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE KING'S SPEECH. i MANY THINGS TO WATCH. Received February 21, 7.33 a.m. LONDON, February 20. • The Times, commenting on the King's Speech, says there are many things to watch, but fere to criticise at present. A few amendments are expected. The Labour members are fairly well satisfied. ADDRESS-IKREPLY. CARRIED IN THE LORDS. \ _____ , Received February 21, 7.33 a.m. LONDON, February 20. The House of Lords carried the Address in-Reply after a brief debate. ; The Marquis of Lansdown'e, exSecretary for Foreign Affairs, pro tested against the gross misrepresentation during the elections relating to the Chinese in South Africa. If the Government believed that slavery existed, it ought to institute immediate enquiry. He com plained of the inadequate information respecting the Transvaal Constitution, and the plans for Ireland. If, added the Marquis, the Government's action were characterised by prudence and moderation, it need not fear that the House of Lords would deliberately obstruot. The Marquis of Ripon, Lord Privy Seal, admitted that it was wrong to assert that the Chinese were manacled, but he asserted that the sys-. tem amounted to semi-slavery. THE CITY OF LONDON ELECTION. MR BALFOUR WILL BE OPPOSED. Received February 21, 7.33 a.m. LONDON, February 20. The election for the City of Loudon seat, vacant by the resignation of the Hon. Anthony Gil"bs, has been fixed for the 27th inst. Mr T. Gibson Bowles will oppose, the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, Mr D. M. Mason, who had announced himself in the Liberal iuterest, retiring. (Mr-T. Gibson Bowles represented King's Lynn from 1882 to the general election last month, when he was ousted by Mr Bellairs, a Liberal. Mr Bowles is a Conservative, but he * also is a Freetrader, and strongly opposed to Mr Chamberlain's Frotecticnist views and to Mr Balfour's policy of retaliation.) WOMEN'S POLITICAL UNION. Received February 21, 8.30 a.m. LONDON, Februarj 20. The Women's Social and Political Union held a great meeting in Caxton Hall. London, at which muob disappointment was expressed at the omission of any reference to the enfranchisement of women from the King's Speech. Mrs Martel, of New South Wales, demanded the immediate introduction of a.measure giving women the vote, the same as men.