LORDS DEFY GOVERNMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 May 1931, Page 7

LORDS DEFY GOVERNMENT

LAND BILL REJECTED “DISREPUTABLE BARGAINING” [OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, May 7. When the Agricultural Land Utilisation Bill, Which was considerably amended in committee, was considered on the report stage in the House of Lords, this evening, 'Lord Parmoor said that the Government must giye an uncompromising negative to Lord Hailsham’s request that the Commons should be advised to waive their, privileges regarding certain amendments, which the Lords had made to the Bin after the debate. Lord Hailsham thereupon moved the rejection of part one of the measure, which deals with the power of the Minister to acquire land fpr the purpose of reconditioning. The Lords adopted \ his amendment by 82 to 31, a majority against the Government _o£ 51 votes. The division means that the Lords rejected all the main clauses of the Bill. Lord Hailsham said that the House did not desire to ’ challenge the people's will, .but; it was to accept' ally measure, which'a‘minority 'of the Government, by disreputable bargaining and jerrymandering, managed to squeeze through the Commons. Lord Parmoor argued that the Lords might amend a Labour Government’s legislation, but its transformation into Conservative legislation - was an action, neither a Liberal nor Labour Government could accept. ’ NORWEGIAN GOVT. RESIGNS. . ■ ' ■ — > ' OSLO, May 7. The Government resigned, following the Odelsting voting by 57 to 55 against granting a concession to the Northern factories Company, a soap-' making concern, wherein the Unilever International Combine, has acquired interests. The Radicals declared that a foreign trust threatened Norwegian interests.