LABOUR DISSENSIONS
UNEMPLOYED INSURANCE BILL. (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, December 5. The'House of Commons devoted the evening to the Committee stage of the Unemployment Insurance Bill. After a heated debate, in connection with the “genuinely seeking work” conditions, the Government was faced With an open revolt by its back benchers, including the representatives of big Trade Unions, which would have certainly entailed a defeat. Miss M. Bondfield (Minister of Labour), hurriedly retired with the Attorney-General. When she returned she announced the withdrawal of the whole of the sub-clause for its redrafting'. The opposing Labour members argued that the sub-section in question opened the door of the administration to persecution. Mr Jowitt (Attorney-General), replied that they must encourage a spirit of self-help. They could not legislate on the lines that those who were unemployed need only sit at home and smoke their pipes until work was found. He admitted that there was a difficulty in granting what was required.
Mr Philip Snowden, by special request, will meet the recalcitrants today, when he will be faced with demands, not only from the Clydesiders, but from the Trade-Union M’s.P., who constitute about seventy-five per cent, of the Labour Party in the House of Commons.
The Trade Union M’s.P. demand ; that the waiting period for the benefit should be three days, instead of six days. It is estimated that this change will cost four millions a year. Last night’s debate caused Mr Ramsay MacDonald some anxious moments. The rank and file seemed determined to defeat the Minister unless | she surrendered. CHANCELLOR’S APPEAL. LONDON, December 6. A meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, after Mr. Snowden had pointed out the adverse effects on the Exchequer, if the malcontents’ amendments, liberalising unemployment insurance, were passed, agreed not to press the amendments, but to co-oper-ate to the fullest extent in passing the bill before Christmas.
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Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1929, Page 7
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308LABOUR DISSENSIONS Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1929, Page 7
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