EVICTIONS BILL VOTE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 9 April 1924, Page 5

EVICTIONS BILL VOTE

SITUATION FORESEEN BY

PRIME MINISTER

INTENTIONS. TO BE STATED TODAY.

(UNITED PRESB ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.) (SYDNEY SUN CABLE.) ■ . . LONDON, 7th April. Details of the debate on the Rents (Evictions) Bill show that Mr. Pringle resumed the debate. >' Mr. Neville Chamberlain laid on the table an amendment to reject the Bill on the ground that it unjustly threw the burden o£ unemployment upon one particular section of the community) and aiso seriously prejudiced the building o> houses for workers by making the rew legislation retrospective. Mr. Mac Donald said the Government regarded the Bill as an. emergency measure, because evictions were alarmingly increasing. The Government felt that the unemployed men, many of whom were ex-fighters, should not be turned cut of* their homes. The Minister of. Health (Mr. Wheatley) explained that the Government's substituted clause compelled a Court to inquire whether an unemployed man threatened with eviction had submitted his case to the local poor law authorities, and given them an opportunity to pay bis rent. Mr. Thomas later announced his refusal to withdraw the clause. The amendment was carried amid Opposition cheers. When the excitement over the Government defeat had subsided, Mr. Baldwin moved to report progress to give Mr. Mac Donald an opportunity of explaining what he proposed to do. Mr. Mac Donald said that in his first speech as Prime Minister he had contemplated such a situation. Ho suggested that there should be some consultation among the parties to decide how to get the Bill through. The Government in the meantime would consider the position and make a statement tomorrow. I