THROUGH COMMITTEE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 137, 22 March 1930, Page 5

THROUGH COMMITTEE.

THE COAL MINES BILL. FOSTTIOX OF THE LIBERALS. y (United Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, March 20. The Liberals’ decision not to risk a dissolution enabled the Government to pass safely through the dangers in the Committee stage of the Coal Mines The House rejected, by 274 votes to 229, a motion to omit the provision empowering District Coal Boards to fix a minimum price at which all classes of coal would he sold. Some Liberals supported the Conservatives, opposing district levies for the purpose of facilitating the sale of a certain class of coal, but the Government carried the point and also added a series of amendments giving the effect of undertaking to provide further safeguards to consumers. The committee stage was concluded, and the House adjourned.

MOTIVE OF THE LIBERALS. NOT ENDANGERING CONFERENCE LONDON, March 20. Much interest is displayed in the Press in the change in the political situation resulting from the announcement that the Liberal Party in the House of Commons will abstain from feting on the Conservative amendment to omit the price-fixing provisions from the Government’s Coal Alines Bill which is being debated to-day. Importance is attached in some quarters to the fact that Mr Lloyd George, Mr Walter Runeiman, Sir Herbert Samuel and other prominent Liberals, and Mr Philip Snowden, Mr A. V. Alexander. Lord Arnold and other members of the Government, were present at what is called a Free Trade luncheon given this day by Mrs Snowden at 7 Downing Street.

The “Manchester Guardian” says there was no arranged coincidence and there was no diplomacy in the luncheon. It was merely an attempt to Get Free Traders of both parties together in view of the menace to Free Trade, and there was no connection between it and the decision taken a few hours later by the Liberals on the Goal Pill. The “Guardian,” however, expresses the hope that such a connection may come. When the House of Commons went into committee on the Coal Mines Bill, Mr Lloyd George explained why the Liberal Party would not take any further part in moving or supporting the amendment during the committee stage. He said he understood that the*fate of the Naval Conference hung in the balance. Undoubtedly any action of the Liberals which would weaken the Government at this moment might have a very damaging effect on the fate of the " Conference. —British Official Wireless.