The record-union., 1897-01-17
How the Matter Has Been Treated in
the Queens Speech.
The Attempt to Ship Fruit From
Jamaica to England Results in a
Failure Two Whole CargOes
Ruined While on the Way to Mar
ket-Lord Rosmond, Governor of
Cape Colony, Asks to be Relieved
From Duty.

From Duty.
LONDON, Jan. 16.-It is understood
that no part of the Queens speech,
which will be read at the opening of
Parliament, was more carefully consid-
cred than the part referring to the Irish
taxation agitation and to the form of
reference should it be decided to men,
ton the matter. On January 9Th the
committee of the Cabinet consulted
Earl Cadogan, Lord Lieutenant of Ire
land, and Gerald Balfour, Chief Secre-
tary for Ireland, on the subject, and
since then communications have been
constant between the Ministers. Lead
ing Unionist members of both houses
have been sounded as to the best course
for the Government to take.
The final draft of the speech will be
decided upon on Thursday, and will be
signed by the Queen in council at Os
borne House, Isle of Wight, the day
after The Ministers who attend the
council will travel from Victoria sta
ton by special train and will cross to
the Isle of Wight on one of the royal
yachts.
The accepted opinion in the Ministe-
rial circle is that if the subject of Irish
financial reform be mentioned at all it
will be by indirect allusion in connec
ton with the Governments measure for
the constitution of a Board of Agri-
culture in Ireland. This bill, which was
fully prepared months ago, has been
before the Cabinet for revision, and is
to be redrafted, a significant fact, in
dicating some important change in it's
provisions.
The United Associated Presses have
obtained some authoritative informa-
ton on the Government proposals as
recast under pressure of the Irish agi-
tation. The bill, besides creating the
new Irish department, will empower
the board to draw from the Imperial
exchequer large annual sum in aid of
Irish agriculture and cognate indus
tries, such as fisheries.
These proposals must fall so lament
ably far short Of what is dtmanded as
to justify the Nationalist Unionist CO.
ailtiOn in treating them as a mere in
stallment. The exact line of opposition
TO the Government to be adopted by
the coalition will not be fixed till after
the debate on the address in reply to
the Queens speech has opened, when
there will be a conference between the
Nationalist leaders and the members
representing the Irish landlord inter-
ests. An interesting question and an
important one for the Government is
how far the coalition viii lwork together
whether they will limit their COM
bined action of Irish finance or go fur
ther.
Unionists like Colonel Saunderson
cannot be expected to abandon their
hostility to old forms of home rule. but
already it is known that the Irish
Unionists, who have hitherto opposed
all bills introduced by Nationalsts. are
ready to relax their opposition, and on
similar Irish questions to even take
united action against the Government
Among the foremost Unionist speak
ers who support the coalition will be
Horace Plunkett Colonel Sounderson
and Sir Edward Clarke. The latter
lawyer politician holds a brief from the
Irish landlord interests, which would
like to get the main portion of what
may accrue to Ireland when financial
redress is granted Sir Edward Clarke
was offered the post of Solicitor-Gen-
eral in the Salisbury Administration.
but refused it, aiming at higher office.
He now rejoices in free hand. and
takes exasteprating views on Irish
finance. One of the best debaters in
Parliament, he will give the ministerial
side some trouble. His friends say that
disappointed ambition has nothing to
do with his present independence of
party ties.
1t is apparent from the ill-fortune
that has attended the shipment of fruit
from Jamaica that American shippers
of fruit to England have little to fear
from competition in that direction.
When the merchants of Jamaica decid-
ed to embark in the fruit trade in the
hope Of recouping themselves for the
losses sustained through the running of
the sugar industry they chartered a
steamer and loaded her with oranges
and bananas for England The whole
cargo spoiled before the vessel had been
many days at sea.
Later another attempt was made with
similar results, the steamer returning
to Kingston after having been compelled
to throw all the fruit overheard. The
latest venture has been equally disas-
trous. The fruit arrived here in such
bad condition that all of it was con-
demned. 1t is said that the Jamaica
growers are not acquainted with the
methods of picking and preparing fruit
for long sea voyages, and until they
learn it will be impossible for them to
gain a market here.
Lord Rosmead (whilom Sir Hercules
Robinson) when he left England to re-
turn to the Cape, was suffering from
Brights disease. The complaint has
been aggravated by his residence at the
Cape and he asked to be released from
his post as early as possible. Sir Will
liam Hart Dyke or Sir James Ferguson.
both of whom have good official records.
are mentioned to succeed Lord Rosmead
as Governor of Cape Colony and British
High Commissioner in South Africa.
American ladies desirous of presenta-
tion at the drawing rooms of the coming
season can rely upon five taking place
three at which the Princess of Wales
viii act for the Queen and two which
will be held by the Queen herself in Nav
and early June. The rule is to be strict
ly enforced that no more than 200 pre-