HOUSE OF COMMONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1929, Page 5

HOUSE OF COMMONS

LABOURITES OPPOSE GOVT. (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, December 4. In ’ the House of Commons, Miss Margaret Bondfield (Minister of Labour) said that the Committee on the Unemployed Insurance Bill regretted that they could not accept an amendment proposing that the State pay the wives of the unemployed ten shillings instead of nine shillings ppi’ week. The increase would, ishe said, cost £825,000. Mr John Wheatley (Labour) said that if he believed that Miss Bondfield was personally opposed to the amendment for increase, then he would regret the day that women entered public life. Miss Bondfield moved the closure of the debate, which was carried by 293 votes to 168 votes. The amendment was then defeated by 229 votes to 28 votes. Mr Baldwin, together with 50 other Conservatives, and also twenty of the Liberals, did not vote. Miss Jennie Lee then moved to increase the allowance for the children of the unemployed from two shillings to five shillings per week. This increase would cost £4,500,000 per annum, and 'would affect 600,000 children. Miss Lee’s amendment was defeated by 210 votes to 37. Many of the Liberals and Conservatives and dozens of the Labour members abstained from voting in this division.

MINISTERIAL POSITIONS. LONDON, December’ 4. The House of Commons passed through all stages a Bill of Indemnity that became necessary through the appointment of seven, instead of six, members of the House of Commons as Under Secretaries. SHARE FRAUDS. LONDON, December 4. In the House of Common's, Mr. Gra- ' ham' answering a question, said that he would consider any practicable proposals to make impossible the fraudulent duplicaton and triplication of share issues. It was already, an of-

fence punishable with penal servitude under the Forgery Act. , SALE OF MEDALS. LONDON, December 4. Mr Tom Shaw in the House of Commons, answering a question, said he doubted the desirability of illegalising the sale of the Victoria Cross. The Army Act forbade the sale of decorations and medals to unauthorised persons. This did not prevent bona fide sales to collectors and similar purchasers. Mr Thurtle :. Is not the man who earns a decoration entitled to do what he likes with it? There was no answer. WIDOWS’ PENSIONS. LONDON, December 4. In the House of Lords, the Widows and Orphans Old Age Pensions Bill was read the third time.