BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 18144, 7 December 1922, Page 4

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS. LIBERAL AMENDMENT REJECTED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 5. Mr Lloyd George, in supporting the National Liberals’ amendment to tho Ad-dress-in-Reply demanding an inquiry into British agriculture, Bald that from the viewpoints both of the production of food and tho employment of labor drastic, farreaching steps wore necessary to deal with agriculture. No civilised nation had neglected agriculture to tho extent that Great Britain had. There was jio more serious feature of Britain’s life than tho population of the rural area. Only 9 per cent, of the population lived there. Thera was no country in tho world except Russia where the employment per 100 acres was less than in Britain. Labor cries : ” Why didn’t you do something?” Mr Lloyd George: “I made efforts, though I was not satisfied with them. During the war we increased the production of food from sufficient for 14,000,000 people to sufficient for 19,000,000 people.” Tho House was half empty when Mr Lloyd George rase. When his name was flashed on the indicators in the library and tho smoking rooms members flocked back, headed by Mr Chamberlain and Mr Bonar Law. The House was soon crowded. Mr Lloyd George was evidently purposely non-provocative and non-critical of tho Government. He added that upon the reorganisation of Labor largely depended whether unemployment would be a permanent menace' to Britain. Mr Bonar Law, in replying, said that the main expedients discussed for dealing with agriculture generally were protection or subsidies. The latter had been tried and proved a failure, and the former was barred. He agreed that many aspects of agriculture needed investigation. He could not accept the amendment, but promised that inquiries would be made on many of the matters raised. _ Sir Robert Sanders (President of tho Ministry of Agriculture], replying, said that he proposed to appoint a, departmental committee to inquire into the differences in prices received by the producer and paid by tho consumer. The amendment was defeated by 267 votes to 62. Tho Laborites and National Liberals did not vote. The King’s Speech was carried without a division. The Labor Party refused the application of Mr Newborn (Communist) to make him tho party whip.—A. and N.Z. Cable. HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM. LONDON, December 5. In the House of Lords tho Duke of Marlborough raised the question of tho reform of the House of Lords. Lord Haldane said he doubted if tho Government was justified in bringing forward any substantial measure to reform without submitting the matter to tho country. Viscount Cave, on behalf of the Government, eaid there was no question of repealing the Parliament Act, but tho powers of and number in the House of Lords must bo dealt with as soon as possible. The Government had no present intention of making proposals to the House. Lord Birkenhead said the matter was one of extreme urgency, as the day was very likely approaching when a Labor Government would be in power.—A. and N.Z. Cable.