The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-07 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE ANNEXATION OF ISLANDS IN THE PACIFIC.
In the HousE OF LORDS, July 2, a discussion upon the
annexation of New Guinea by the Queensland Government
Was initiated by Lord Lamington, who in moving for papers
With reference to the contemplated annexation of various
islands in the Pacific, deprecated the policy of annexation,
and expressed the opinion that a Colonial Govornment was
not justified in annexing territory, or even in advising it,
Without the previous consent of the Imperial Government.
Lord Norton protested against this doctrine, as being
Opposed to precedent.
The Earl of Carnarvon, while believing that it would be
highly imprudent for her Majesty's Government to allow
New Guinea to fall into the hands of France or any other
foreign Power, was distinctly opposed to its annexation by
eneensland.
-

After some remarks by the Earl of Longford and the Duke
Manchester,
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Lord Derby said he held that, as a general principle, it
Was not desirable to increase by annexations our colonial
responsibilities, but if colonies themselves wished to enlarge
their territories and to undertake the consequent burdens,
that to some extent altered the position. New Guinea
Was not a newly-discovered country, and the action of
the Government of Queensland in annexing it left matters
as they had been before that step was taken. Her
Majesty's Government were not prepared to undertake the
littnexation of New Guinea—an enormous territory s which
could be administered only at an enormous expens ). It was
Impossible that the Colony of Queensland could undertake
that responsibility. Representatives of the various Aus-
tralian colonies had recently brought under his notice
a proposition that we should annex the New Hebrides,
the Solomon Islands, and other groups in the Pacific
He had not held out much hope to them that Her
Majesty's Government would give effect to such a policy,
but her Majesty's Government were considering how far
they might take measures to secure better order in New
°MASA and other islands of the Pacific, with a view to the
greater security to the trade of this country and the Aus-
tralian colonies.

Th motion for the production of papers was agreed to.
The Sea Fisheries Bill and Stolen Goods Bill were read a
third time and passed, and the Supreme Court of Judicature
(Funds) Bill passed through Committee.
Their lordships adjourned at five minutes to eight o'clock.

In the Honk OF COMMONS, Mr. Ines took his seat for
Hastings.

ARTIZANS' DWELLINGS,
Mr. Gladstone informed Mr. Broadhurst that the Govern-
tient believed the subject of the dwelling accommodation of
the labouring classes and the evils consequent on over-
crowding in large towns was ripe for discussion and legisla-
tion, and therefore it was not proposed to issue a Royal
Commission to inquire.
POSTAL TELEGRAMS.

Mr. Alderman Lawrence gave notice that on going into
supply he would move,—That it is not expedient, in
order to reduce the minimum, price of telegrams to 6d,
to increase the present tariff for telegrams of twenty words
and upwards, as would be the case under Scheme 1 of the
Treasury minute of the 14th of June, 1883; also to move,—
That it is not expedient to charge in the cost of tele-
grit= for the number of words in the address of either
receiver or sender; and also to propose the following
scheme for the consideration of the Postmaster-General :
In every telegram the addresses of any length of receiver
and sender to be charged 2d. ; telegrams cf eight words, at
id. per word, and including the address, 6d. ; telegrams of
12 words, at id. per word, and including the address, Bd.;
telegrams of 16 words, at id. per word, and including the
address, 10d. ; telegrams of 20 words, at id. per word, and
Including the address, Is., as at preseht ; additional for
(+Very four words, 2d.
THE CORRUPT PRACTICES BILL

The House again went into committee, for the 11th time,
on the Corrupt Practices Bill.
Clauses 7 to 9 having been agreed to, on Clause 10, which
defines the penalty for illegal practices, the Attorney-
General consented to limit the period of disqualification for
Sitting for the constituency in which the illegal practices had
been committed to seven years instead of making it per-
Detual as proposed by the clause. The clause, thus amended,
Was agreed to as were also the three following clauses.
On Clause 14 a prolonged discussion arose upon an amend-
3:tent by Mr Labouchere, declaring the acceptance of a
title by a member of the House who vacated his seat in
order to promote the election of another person to it, to be
on illegal practice.
Eventually the amendment was rejected by 186 to 11, and
the clause having been agreed to, progress was reported, and
the House resumed.
The other orders were disposed of, and the House ad-
burned at a quarter past one.

In the HOUSE OF Lonns, July 3, the Earl of At erdeen
Presented a petltion from 159,929 women of England, another
containing 14,747 signatures (collected within a short period)
from women of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and a third
Petition containing 8,661 signatures, in favour of closing
Public-houses on Sunday.