LABOUR STAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1937, Page 7

LABOUR STAND.

defence estimates. Support is Tacit Admission of Justification. MR. CHURCHILL AND WAR. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12 noon.) LONDON', March 4. Labour has decided to support the Defence Estimates. The Parliamentary party, after a meeting in the House of Commons, resolved to move amendments for reduction in each Estimate, but to abstain from voting when the main Estimates are finally submitted. This is construed as a tacit admission that the international situation justifies incroa>es. I cannot resist the conviction that we are moving through times as dangerous as any we have ever experienced," said Mr. Winston Churchill, supporting the third reading of the Defence Loans in the House of Commons. He added that he was astounded at the wave of optimism, even complacency, which had -swept over Parliament and the public. He did not believe there was danger of war this spring or slimmer, hut could Ministers sav that the Air Force next year would be more nearly a match for the German Air Force than it was to-day? Government's Vagueness. Mr. Churchill, continuing, complained that effective discussion had been liaftled by the Government's vagueness and lack of. any quantitative statement or date at which particular progress was leached. There was no assurance that the programmes would be carried out punctually, and no means whereby the House could check progress.

They knew the Air Force programme was in arrear. There was also the serious question of a large number of ioreigners here belonging to Nazi or Fascist organisations. There was any number of facts of which the House had no information, but on which the foreign staff probably was well informed.

Mr. C. (J. Amnion (Lab.. Camberwell) moved rejection of the bill, which he said was a betrayal of the electors because the Government obtained its majority at the last election on peace pledges whereas this was a war measure.

Ihe LabouV amendment was defeated l»y 241 to 117 votes and the hill was lead a third time.

According to the "Daily Mail - ' the first defence loan Mill he ' issued shortly amounting to £100.000.000.

LABOUR DECISION. ADD TO COUNTRY'S SAFETY. British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) JUG BY, March 4. Mr. Y\ ington Churchill, intervening in the House of Commons third reading debate on the Defence Loans Bilk referred to the reported decision of the Labour party not to vote against the Defence Estimates. He said its effect would be to add appreciably to the safety of the country. Mr. Churchill warned the House against complacency in the face of formidable rearmament in Europe accompanied bv nervous tension and financial strain, and while approving of the Government's programme, expressed doubts as to whether its tempo was sufficiently high, or whether the country was being made to face squarely the sacrifices necessary for the preservation of its freedom. GAS PROTECTION. DOMINION INQUIRIES. (Received 'Z p.m.) LONDON. March 4. The British Government has issued a public specimen of gas masks and gas protection equipment. Wing-Commander Hodsell. head of Britain's Air Raid Precaution* Department. told the Australian Associated Press that he had received inquiries from all the Dominions and many colonies, including Fiji. IMPERIAL DEFENCE. COLONIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 4. Voluntary contributions to the cost of Imperial Uefencc by colonial Governments amount to £1.">3,000 in the present year.