NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 105, 27 January 1933, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

_ While it is no doubt an honour that Great Britain should have been invited. first to treat with the United States on the settlement of War debts, it may not prove to be an unqualified advantage to be at the head of the debtors’ queue. In the original funding operations Britain made the first and worst bargain. On this occasion she promises to he more wary. In view of her financial rectitude she might have asked to be the last to negotiate and that her payments should be fixed by reference to the terms granted to other nations. If she settles first, she may not only have cause, to'regret it as before, but also get into hot water with her European neighbours for setting a standard which thej' may be loath to follow.

’ A Parliamentary session without a no-confidence motion from tie. leader of the Labour Party would be shorn of one of its customary incidents Tn the past Mr. Holland seems to have regarded it as a matter of routine to move his usual sessional motion of no-confidence, even when there was no particular point in doing so. and without regard to the waste of time and money involved. - The result has been \hat tne public has become somewhat impatient of these displays, and lost all interest m them. On this occasion, however, the motion of which le las given notice may, and should serve a useful purpose, since its general terms may cause members disaffected on particular issues to i effect upon their general attitude to the Coalition, and the consequences of pushing a particular point to a general conclusion. Hiriilv important issues have been raised concerning which it is desirable tin! J® f e !i lng the . Ho 'j lse should be tested, and opinions aligned. On these there has already been considerable public controversy. The at i e i fa ™ l,ar f .° everybody. There is therefore no need for a interminable debate in which the issues would be obscured by a og of verbiage.. If the discussion were confined to selected speaker:nuch valuable, time would be saved, and the result would be a well balanced and informative debate, with the issues clearlv stated, and the voting a definite indication of the mind of Parliament