HOME AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 161, 10 July 1935, Page 9

HOME AFFAIRS.

CENSURE MOTION.

Mr. Baldwin's Survey During

Debate.

RECOVERY A "PROFIT BOOM?"

(British Official Wireless.) (Received I.SO p.m.) RUGBY, July 9. The first important debate on home affairs since the reconstruction of the Ministry under Mr. Stanley Baldwin took place in the House of Commons to-night on the Labour party's vote of censure on the subject of unemployment policy and the problem of special areas. Mr. Arthur Greenwood argued that the Government was claiming credit for improvement in trade, for which it was in no way responsible, and had raised hopes which it had been unable to satisfy. The Prime Minister said the policy of the Government had been to create an atmosphere of confidence. He claimed that the Ottawa agreement, and the use of tariff bargaining in bilateral treaties had made a contribution to the problem. He challenged the Opposition to show any country in the world which had made more progress during the last three or four years. It was the unsettled state of the world, as opposed to the apparently settled state at Home, which gave rise to the fear of some check, coming from an unknown or unexpected quarter, that made it all the more necessary to do nothing which would in the least damage national credit, internal or external. Mr. Baldwin said expenditure on public works could be justified only if it gave such an incentive to industry as would enable the country to bear its financial burden and at the same time to create such a momentum a3 would maintain the volume of employment when that expenditure ceased. Regarding the depressed areas, the improvement, so far as it had <rone, had touched them, too, but the problem was still a most difficult and obstinate one. The Government would shortly have at its disposal reports from commissions for special areas, and he hoped it would be able to act upon their suggestions tor development and amelioration. Sir Archibald Sinclair criticised the Government's fiscal policy and the absence of large, constructive proposals to diminish unemployment by development of national resources. Sir Stafford Cripps said the ■ profit boom which the Government had called a return to prosperity had done little or nothing to touch the standards of the workers, employed or unemployed. Sir John Simon, Home Secretary, winding up the debate,, said Labour members were the last who had a right to lecture the Government on the handling of the unemployment problem. The motion of censure defeated by 450 votes to 76.

RELEASE FROM PLEDGE?

LL. GEORGE'S "NEW DEAL."

(.Received 2.30 p.m.)

LONDON, July 9.

Regarding Mr. Baldwin's speech during the home affairs debate as indicating the Government's rejection of his submitted "New Deal," Mr. Lloyd George immediately after hearing the speech) sent a letter to the Prime Minister asking to be released from his pledge not to publish the details of the "New Deal" before the Government's decision. Mr. Baldwin crossed the floor and promised that the Cabinet would consider it to-day. It is expected that the "New Deal" will be published this weekend in the House of Commons. Mr. Lloyd George voted against the Government on the Opposition's motion of censure.