"PATIENT OXEN."

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18087, 31 May 1924, Page 13

"PATIENT OXEN."

GIBE AT LIBERALS. WHO SAVE GOVERNMENT IN UNEMPLOYMENT DIVISION. (BX OUUHWB9! ASSOCUTIOS OOPTWOKT.) LONDON, May 29. In the House of Commons, in Committee on tho Supplementary Estimates, the Conservative amendment to reduce the» salary of the Minister of .Labour by £IOO, as an indication of dissatisfaction with tho Government's unemployment policy, was defeated by 300 vote a to 252. (austbaluw ah» s.e. cam* absociatioh.J (Eeceived May 30th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Interest in the speeches was eclipsed by happenings outside the Chamber, which were determining the Liberal attitude.

Sir Robert Hdrne (Conservative) was aware of a first abortive meeting, and made great play of the Liberal difficulties. He aroused loud Conservative laughter by describing the Liberals as "patient ozen treading out Socialistic corn," whose day of slaughter was not averted, but only postponed.

Ho pictured the Liberal leaders bemoaning their decimated followers and murmuring, "Alas, my poor brothers!" Sir Robert was subjected to a constant fire of interruptions, necessitating tho Ohairnian appealing for a fair hearing. Mr Mac Donald chose to direct the Labour defence himself, instead of leaving the task to Mr Shaw (Ministor of Labour), who made rather a poor showing Jast week. The Premier's outstanding point was his defiant claim that the Opposition was afraid to face an immediate election.

The second Liberal meeting lasted an hour. All present were pledged to secrecy, but later it was known that a majority was, against Mr Lloyd George's desire to administer a rebuff to the Government.

Mr Asquith'a phrase, "I favour fajir play," revealed the Liberal decision, which was greeted with loud cheers, coupled with ironical cheers from' the Conservatives. '"■ Mr Asquith, nettled, asked if the cheers were intended to Buggest that because tho Liberals wore prepared to give the Government time they were' obsequious minions of Labour. A voice: Patient oxen! It waß significant that Mr Lloyd George, did _not return to the Houne after the second meeting, to hear Mr Asquith's speech. Labourites showed no satisfaction at Mr Asquith's decision, which they regard as equivalent to a claim that the Liberals have left them in office on probation, with a warning to mend their'ways. \ Captain the Hon. F. E. Guest intimated that he was not able to follow Mr Asquith's guidance, and voted against the Government. Il A hundred Liberals supported tha Government, 40,..including Mr Lloyd George, did iot vote, and eight voted with the Opposition. Two Labour members came to tho House from sick beds.

DAY OF EXCITEMENT. SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE. (ATJBTOAtHN MTO »•». CASUS ASSOCIATIOJI.) UOKDON, May 29. It lias been ft day of intense political excitement, with talk of a dissolution. The Ministerialists urgently whipped for the division. Sir Robert Home opened the. debate, and declared that the country's patience was exhausted. The Government's record was one of hypocrisy and die)mat failure. Mr Mac Donald's gaze was so fixed on the foreign horizon that he stumbled over hie own door mat. Mr MactDonald, who received an oration from hi* followers, eaid he regretted Sir Robert Home's tubthumping. He agreed that the opinion of the country was changing, but the change was against the Opposition, and in favour of Labour. He; concluded that Sir Willuun Joynson-Hicks& amendment was one of censure. If it were passed, he assured the Opposition that he would do his best to meet, them.on the platforms of Hie country. (Prolonged Ministerial cheers.) At the conclusion of Mr Mac Donald's speech the Liberals trooped out of the House to hold a p*rty meetog. to determine what their attitude would be on a vote. Consequently exceptional interest attached to the speech which Mr Asquith delivered a little later. He indicated at an early stage that the Liberals vsere prepared to give the Government a little more time to turn round. j

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES. ARTERIAL ROADS AND AFFORESTATION. (bbotbr's musgbahs.) (Received May 80th,-11.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 29. During the debate, Mr Mac Donald declared that the last Government had left the present one with bare cupboards. Unemployment Sschen*. were inextricably involved with the problem of local rating and Imperial taxation. i ■ ■ .. He outlined the Government's proposed national schemes to meet the position, including work on large arterial reads and afforestation. The latter was bound up Kith * land settlement

"(pwrttaWl*lS"of nest .eojgnn.),.

scheme. He was of opinion that the Government ought to plant 30,000 aores annually. Mr Baldwin (Leader of the Opposition) sajd the Government's suggested 6cheme a would not prove a positive remedy for unemployment, regarding which the Labourites were as far off as when they assumed office. The debate on the main estimate was adjournd sine die. RECALCITRANT CLYDESD3ERS.

DISGUSTED WITH CABINET. (ACSTBiXIAII AK» S.Z. CAZIM ASBOtSATH».) LONDON, May 29. Clydeside Labourites are disgusted with Cabinet not producing work schemes, <ind may n6t vote in the unemployment division unless the Government promises to expedite their proposals. /