THAT DEFEAT.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4592, 18 May 1922, Page 2

THAT DEFEAT.

COALITION GOVERNMENT. CATCH DIVISION ON ECONOMIES WHAT WILL CABINET DO? (By Electric Cable —Copyright.) (Aus.-N.Z. Cable Asocmtion.) London, - May 16. The unexpected defeat of tho Government caused some excitement iu the lobbies and politcal clubs. lit. Hon. H. A. L. Fisher’s (President, Hoard of Education) resignation is expected. Iho resignation of the Government is unlikely, though it is possible, as the defeat has arisen from the effort to give effect to the report of tho Geddes committee. During the debate on the second reading of the Teachers’ Superannuation Bill, the National Union of Teachers, whicnlias considerable voting power in the House of Commons, proved unexpectedly active. There was so much lobbing tlita the Government, scenting danger, issued a “three-line” whip for the debate, which ordinarily would not attract 50 members. The Bill proposed that teachers should contribute 5 per cent of their salaries towards the pension, thus saving £2,300,000 annually. Mr Fisher argued on the necessity for economy. He showed salaries for teachers had increased 150 per cent in five year and their pension had trebled. Several Labour members and other opponents, then claimed thta a bargain had been made with the teac.iers and any reduction made was a breach of the honour of the House of Commons, which had agreed to the bargain. Messrs Fisher and Chamberlain denied that any bargain was made when, the teachers’ salaries wero fixed by the Burnham Committee. The excitement increased when Lord Robert Cecil moved the •idjourni:ie:il.. Mr Chamberlain refused to accept the motion. It was now evident that opposition to the Government proposal was gathering strength and that the ‘DieHards,” Coalition, Liberal, and a number of Conservatives would be allied with the Labour members on the question of adjournment There was a sensation when Sir IV. Jo.vnson Hicks and Major E Gray (Conservatives), tlie tellers, returned L oin the lobby and took up their position on the right of the table, with the .Government whips on the left. There rose a mighty cheers from the opposition and loud shouts of “Resign!” When Sir W. Joyitson Hicks read the figures, showing the Government in a minority of three, Mr Chamberlain, who was greeted wtili cries of “Got out your election addresses!” imineditel.v moved the adjournment of the House. Cabinet wiU hold a meeting tomorrow to decide what action the Government will take.. The general impression is that the Government blundered in allowing a division to lie taken two hours before the time mentioned in their “three line” whip. It is also considered that Mr Fisher is unpopular with -he Crnservatives and that ho is an unconvincing debater. Nevertheless, there are shrewd politicians who think Mr Chamberlain purposely risked defeat, as lie can now fairly claim the Government is doing its best to economise, but that a combination of opposition forces obedient to the pressure of the teachers’ votes, thwarted its efforts. Moreover, Mr Lloyd George may take the double event defeat in the House of Commons, and his. set-back at Genoa, owing to America’s refusal to attend the Hague Conference, as the occasion for retirement and search of tho rest he batUy needs.