HOMELAND POLITICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1929, Page 5

HOMELAND POLITICS

LORD BIRKENHEAD’S SPEECH. (By Cable—Presa Assn.—Copyright.) ' LONDON, November 30. Lord Birkenhead, speaking at a Conservative Association meeting, declared: The tone which Mr Philip Snowden adopted on the Continent in insisting on something whereanent a Conservative Government would be equally consistent, but more polite, was alien to British diplomatic traditions. He said: “It is astonishing that London should gallop forward and acclaim Mr MacDonald and Mr Snowden, and confer on them the freedom of the city. It was in the balance in 19141918, whether the Empire survived or smashed, that Mr Snowden contributed a constant stream of defeatism, and Mr MacDonald excited only a strike of the mercantile marine when it refused to convey him to a Soviet Conference. A combination of the other parties could turn out the Government. I yould rely on the common sense of the people to turn it out when it was grossly wrong rather than maintain it by fundamental hypocrisy. Unless it is controlled, it will destroy the whole basis on which our relationship with Egypt depends, and bankrupt as in our obligation to maintain the rights of civilised countries there. If the Government can escape its obligations to Europe, it will prove itself a political infant. There is no immediate prospect of Dominion status for India. I would dissolve India in anarchy. I wish that some son of toil, and competent trades unionist were Indian Secretary. It is not the place

for a second-rate Parliamentary filibuster, and I hope those who must decide the question will not be influenced by this amateur sentimental diplomacy. We are finding work for more men hi England than were employed in July, 1914. Our right to large scale migration has been greatly restricted. The Government places burden after burden on capital. We shall soon find a quarter of a million bright-eyed boys who should be seeking work, receiving a dole.” CONSERVATIVE APATHY. LONDON, November 30. The Conservative Whips are annoyed, at the laxity of the attendance of the rank and file of the party. They

point out that they missed a rare opportunity on Thursday night to defeat the Government on the Women’s Pensions Bill amendment proposed by the Liberals. Only 123 out of the 260 Conservatives were present in the House, or otherwise the Government would easily have been defeated, because fifty-four Liberals voted solidly against the Government. LABOUR PEERAGES.

LONDON, November 29. It is anticipated that the New Year honours will include several Upper House creations, because Mr J. Ramsay MacDonald desires to strengthen the Labour representation in the House of Lords, on which it is intended to put more work. JUNIOR MINISTERS. (Recd. Dec. 1, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 30. The re-shuffling of junior Ministers, in order to reduce the number of Under-secretaries to six, in accordance with law instead of seven, as recently, is being carried out. Earl Russell re-

places Dr Shiels as Under-secretary for India, Mr Arthur Ponsonby replaces Earl Russell as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Mr W. Lunn replaces Mr Pon-, sonby as Under-secretary for the Dominions, Dr Shiels replaces Mr Lunn as Under-secretary for the Colonies.