BRITISH GOVERNMENT
AWKWARD SITUATION
DEFEAT QUITE UNEXPECTED. (VNITEB PRES3 ASSOCIATION.—COPTRIBHT.) (AUSTRALIAN . NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 11th April. In the defeat of the Government by 145 to 138 on a ,»snap division, Ministerial slackness created an extremely awkward situation for the Government, which the Opposition is exploiting to the full. The defeat was, utterly unexpected. By its vote the House refused to go into Committee of Supply on the Civil Service estimates, so a way out of the muddle is essential. At first it was thought that it would be necessary to start a new session to deal with the Civil Service Estimates, but the Speaker was consulted, and it was decided to accept a motion on Thursday that he leave the Chair and ox'der the svhole of the House to go into Committee of 3upply. This removes the necessity of a new session, and will right the unfortunate situation. LABOUR STEALS MARCH. The defeat was due to the fact that the Government Whip said that the division was expected at 9.30 o'clock, whereas it was actually a few minutes earlier. While the division was going j on there was no indication of crisis, i but the manner in which the Labour benches suddenly filled up showed that there had been an attempt to catch the. Government napping.. When the clerk of the table handed the Labour Whip a slip bearing the figures of the division a burst of cheers arose in the Opposition benches, developing into pandemonium, shouting Labourites scattering order papers in all directions. Mr. Wedgwood, waving, a handkerchief, led round after round of cheering. 'Mr. Lansbury shouted in the direction of the Government front bench: "You'll soon be on the dole." When order was partially restored, Mr. Ramsay Macdonald asked what the Government proposed. After a hasty conference, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, a 'senior member of the Government, without comment, moved the adjournment. Mr. Bonar Law was not present.
"TRANSIENT PHANTOMS." Mr. Pringle (L.), one of the House's recognised humorists,, could not resist poking fun at the Government. He suggested that the motion must be fatal to the Government's existence. It was beyond the ingenuity of any Parliamentarian to frame a motion which would reverse the House's decision 1 during the current session. He asked what sense was thare in meeting to-morrow for an academic discussion while those "transient, miserable phantoms" occupied the Treasury benches. (Cheers and laughter.) Mr. Pringle said he was glad the National Liberals had been with the Opposition in bringing an end to this thoroughly inept, futile, and incompetent Administration. ■ He movedi that the House adjourn until Thursday. The Labour Party did not support the motion, which was negatived without a division, and the House rose. The lobby was highly excited. It is generally thought that the incident will strengthen the movement for a rapproachement with "Mr. Austen Chamberlain and other Unionist exMinisters, "■ thus strengthening the Government.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 87, 12 April 1923, Page 7
Word Count
483BRITISH GOVERNMENT Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 87, 12 April 1923, Page 7
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