BRITISH POLITICS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8170, 28 June 1906, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

SPEECH BY MR CHAMBERLAIN.

PREFERENCE AND SOCIAL

REtORM.

A DEFINITE POLICY WANTED

Received June -27, 8.47 a.m

LONDON, June 26,

Speaking at the inaugural oanquefc of the Nineteen Hundred Club, which has been formed to oommemorate.the last Parliament and to further Unionist interests, Mr Chamberlain urged the need of a united definite policy of social reform, stating that preference was not the least important part of the constructive work. He also paid a tribute to the late Mr Seddon and his last task in establishing closer intercolonial relations. Referring to Mr Winston Churchill's recent letter, which approved the colonies devising treaties in reference to intercolonial commeroe, he said: "Why should the Motherland be omitted? 1 predict that when the colonies have accomplished this work, and have led where we ought to have led, the Motherland will not allow it to rest there, and will not allow us to be exiles from our Empire. We must follow where our ohildrea teach us the way."

THE EDUCATION BILL.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OP COMMONS. AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSE POUR. i Reoeived Jane 27, 9.40 a.m. LONDON, June 26. A debate is proceeding in the House of Commons on an amendment moved by Mr Evelyn Cecil to make Clause 4 (giving facilities lor religious instruction) mandatory. Mr Ceoil said Mr Birrell's amendment providing for a ballot, in order that parents may have an opportunity of expressing their wishes in regard to religious instruction, was an excrescence on the Bill. His (Mr Cecil's) amendment was an exception grafted on as exceo tion. He predicted that the local authorities would prove reasonable in most oases. Messrs Paul M'Namara and Belloo, Nationalist members, preferred Mr Cecil's amendment. Mr Obamberain said the Bill was drawn on wrong lines, and pas not amendable. The logical sequence of Mr Cecil's amendment would be the assimilation of country and urban aohools. What would the passive resisterß then say? MR CECIL'S AMENDMENT NEGATIVED. Receivfid Jnne27, 10.36 p.m. LONDON, Jnne 27. Mr Cecil's amendment was negatived by 343 votes to 237 votes, amid loud Opposition cheers, this being tl?e lowest Ministerial majority on any important division this session. The minority consisted of Unionists, 68 Nationalists, 20 Independent Labour, and 27 Liberal members. The majority inoluded two Catholics, Colonel Herbert and C. O'Donnell. REPATRIATION OF CHINESE. Reoeived June 27, 8.30 a.m. LONDON, June 26. In the House of Commons yesterday Mr Winston Churchill, UnderSecretary for the Colonies, intimated that the Government was considering the desirability of amending the Chinese coolie proclamation.

CABLE NEWS.

By Telegraph—Prat Aawwtel&on—Copyiigbt,