IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3139, 8 February 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

A NOTABLE DEBATE.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

AN DEPRESSIVE CEREAIOXY

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION--COPY EIGHT. J

LONDON, Feb. 6

The first session of the new Parliament was opened tb-day by His Alajesty King George. There was the usual Royal procession when the members of the House of Commons assembled' in the House of Lords. His Alajesty the King made the revised accession declaration. The High Commissioners of the overseas Dominions occupied scats on the right of the Throne. The King was in naval uniform. SPEECH EROAf THE THRONE. In Lis speech, which was exceptionally brief, he referred to the friendly foreign relations. He was hopeful of the arrangement of a new commercial treaty with Japan. He inferred to the improved condition of the trade routes in Persia. He also made reference to the interest- taken in the forthcoming Imperial Conference. AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT. A couple of hours previous to the House of Commons assembling the Labor party, after electing Air. Ramsay MacDonald' as chairman, were photographed in their places in the Chamber, the Speaker giving his permission for the unusual incident. A DEAIOCRATIC AIEASURE. After a protracted meeting the Nationalists approved of the payment of members as a democratic measure, but requested that Ireland should be exempted and the money devoted to some useful public purpose m. Ireland. LEG ISLATIOX FOR E-SHAD OWED. At the opening of Parliament, the King and Queen were vociferously cheered. The weather wars fine, and there were enormous crowds. The Speech referred to King Edward s death, to the South African l nion, the Imperial Conference, and announced the re:ntreduction of the Parliament Bill, a Paupers' Pensions Bill, and a Bill tor providing for insurance against- sick-

ness, invalidity, and _ unemployment- in the trades specially liable thereto.

BALFOUR v ASQUITH

TWO VIEWS OF RECIPROCITY

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT. J (Received Feb. 7. 9.45 u.m.) LONDON, Feb. 7.

Air. Balfour, speaking in the House of Commons on tile Address-in-Rep!y, censured Air. Winston. Churchill _ for withholding the military in South Males during the mining troubles, and twitted him with attending at Sydney Street m company with a when the attack was made on tile Socialists' Club Air. Balfour declared that tae Empire had now reached a point of development- where Britain was simply first among equals. As they were our equals, it was not our business to comment on the action and motives ot the dominions, but if the agreement between Canada- and tho C mted States

wav fully carried out, it would have vei \* dire results upon the niture or the Empire. It can hardly tail to make Canada commercially and economically dependent- upon America. For^ a generation Canadian statesmen had developed trade on Imperial lines. Millions ha i been spent in establishing a system of transport from east to west.. If tne policy of reciprocity with America were carried out. it would be the result of the Government refusing to listen to the U'.ig pleading of Canadian .statesmen Mr Asquith, replying to Mr. Balfour's censures, said that Air. Cuurchill suffered from the dangerous endowment of an interesting personality.. He had shown - a cool head ana wise discretion in connection wi.h South. Males, it would be wise to deter criticism until they knew whether the C.maai: n-United .states agrement found mver in Canaoa. At present it was only an agreement ad referendum. It was ccrtiuii that Britain would have <k tOyiioti.ing yo prevent the natural tr im el et ciu*. mitl there had been nothing in tne long run which would he her., ncial to Canada. If for the sake prciorcntial relations, they put a :e\ ; n toed from Russia. Argentina and •. t er countries outside the Empire, it- was as .certain as the rising sun that the l nit el States would .sooner or later be 1 arced to lower its tariff walls.

NEW LABOR LEADER IMS VIEWS ON IMPERIAL DEFENCE. UX) l ERST AN DING WITH GER WAN Y NEEDED. (Received Feb. 7. U. 35 p.m.) LONDON. Fob. 7. [n the Home of Commons, Air. Ramsay Macdonald said it was rumored^ that the navy and armv estimates would, be < increased. Where was the increase going to end ? Surely it was apparent that the unseat policy would not give security, and it offered no ending except perhaps it precipitated war or national bankruptcy. He recognised that until a better understanding with Germany was reached it was almost a . waste of words to discuss tile diminution of armaments. s Need FOR THE REFERENDUM. MR. BALFOUR EXPLAINS THE UNIONIST ATTITUDE. (Received Feh. 8. 12.25 a.m.) LONDON, Feh. 7.

Air. Balfour, speaking at the Constitutional Club banquet to the new Unionist members of the House of Commons repeated his pledge that tariff reform would not he enforced without first being submitted to the people. 'llic

referendum ought to be a permanent part of the v onstituiion, not only for dealing with grave differences between the two 11: uses, hut for settling oortam other questions which it would ho inexpedient to withdraw from the people but for which there was improper machinery for ordinal - '- purposes. The Unionists not less stronglv favored preference with the colonies because of the Canadian-United States agreement.