GOVERNMENT'S WAY OUT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 83, 7 April 1924, Page 7

GOVERNMENT'S WAY OUT

MODIFYING THE FIRST CLAUSE

SOCIALIST MEMBERS' CRITICISM.

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(RIUTIR'I TJIIQIUK.) (Received 7th April, H a.m.)

LONDON, 6th April.

, Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr. J. R. Clynes settled the doubts regarding the Government's way out of the impasse in which it found itself in regard to the Evictions Bill. He stated that the Government proposed to submit amendments to clause one in Committee, providing that before' a Court makes an orde-r for possession in the case of non-payment of rent, it shall first be satisfied that the tenant had a- reasonable opportunity of obtaining relief from the local poor law' authorities. He was advised that such an' amendment was within the scope of the present Bill, and did not require a money resolution. Therefore, the Government proposed to take the Bill as tha first business on Monday. ■ : After some Liberal and Conservative criticism, a Labour member, Mr.' Kirkwood, excited Opposition laughter and cheers by a heated speech, in which ho described the Government as "jelly fish calling themselves Socialists." He said the .time had come for. the Government to prove its usefulness. Tenants were threatened with eviction, particularly in Scotland; and the parish {councils were already overburdened. The Government should say Whether it intended to introduce a' Money' Bill to recoup them., . Mr. Clynes replied that the charge on the community must ■■•first be met through the local authorities. He said nothing- to indicate that the Government opposed recouping them from the State funds. •••.■_..■