A STONEWALL WHICH FELL

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 143, 14 December 1922, Page 5

A STONEWALL WHICH FELL

DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE

UNEMPLOYED.

(DNIrBD PRBSS ASSOCIATION.— COPTMOBT.)

(AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received 14th December, 8 aim.)

LONDON, 13th December.

The members of the Labour Party, with a view;to compelling the, Government to give greater consideration to the unemployed problem, . declared their intention of keeping* the House of ' Commons in continuous session until' Friday. They began a searching attack, on the Supplementary Estimates, the party divided' itself into relays, and speaker after ' speaker devoted hours to irrelevances, speaking with mock solemnity on such questions as the Irish Vice-Regal housemaid's wages. The Chairman of Committees ordered Mr. Wheatley and Mr. Kirkwood to resume their seats on the ground that their speeches were irrelevant; but their places were taken by other obstructionists. The guillotine was applied frequently- -At 1 o'clock the Labour Party moved the adjournment, but this the Government successfully resisted, amidst ironical' ,Government cheers. l I At 4.30 a.m. the unemployment vote of more than a million came up__ior ponsideration, the Labour Party bitterly protesting against- proceeding at such an hour. Mr. Hogge moved a reduction as a protest, and suggested that distress committees should be established in towns to provide work. Mr. Lansbury and others denounced the Government proposals as inadequate. The closure was .carried and tjie vote was adopted, ! many Labour members refusing to vote, i Ignoring further protests, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,, at 7 o'clock, introduced the Consolidated Fund Bill, which was. immediately put through its first reading, and the' House rose." j