20 FEBRUARY 1904, Page 3

The Closure having been moved at 12 o'clock, a division

was taken on the amendment, when 230 voted for and 281 against, giving the Government a majority of 51. An analysis of the division reveals the significant fact that although only 9 Ministerialists voted for the amend- ment, no fewer than 60 were absent or paired. In other :words, the prospect of a Dissolution, and that alone, stood between them and the registering of their opposition to this ill-omened measure. Ministers have triumphed for the moment, but the public .opinion of the Empire has

been outraged by a Government which professes to be deeply concerned to give ear to the voice of the Britains oversea. And all this has been done not to disappoint a body of mineowners in a hurry.