HOMELAND POLITICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 September 1931, Page 5

HOMELAND POLITICS

SPEECHES IN COMMONS | PREMIER’S SALARY CUT 20% [official wireless.] RUGBY, September 9. \Mr MacDonald, in a striking passage in his speech, in the Commons, said: “I appeal to the nation, to all classes and conditions, to go cheerfully with the Government over the hard broken road along which our security, our honour and our well being are to be found. The burdens, which we ask each one to bear will not be inequitable. This is not a pernicious attack on the standard of living. It is the ranging of all in the common contribution to uphold the credit upon which the lives and income of j every citizen depend.” He added that it was the duty of the Government to remain until the crisis was over, and the world was convinced once more that sterling was unassailable. Mr Baldwin declared: “We are going to see the matter through. We are going to give the Rrime Minister our full wholehearted support to achieve the object for- which the Government was created.” He believed that an industrial revival could best be achieved bv means of tariffs.

Mr Winston Churchill, whose views on protection had not previously coincided with those of the Conservative Party also declared his belief that a tariff was essential .for an industrial revival.

Sir H. Samuel, who concluded the debate for the Government, declared that when the whole situation was revealed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and also the equitable .measures which the Government proposed to meet the situation, he felt there would not be uncompromising and bitter opposition which had been threatened in certain quarters, but if such opposition did prevail, the Government would in accordance with its. duty, be prepared to meet it. During, the debate, the Prime Minister mentioned that he was foregoing £lOOO of his £5OOO yearly salary. Mr Baldwin moved resolutions providing for the Government to tajie all the time of the House for the rest of the session, and for the disposal of the necessary Budget resolutions in committee of ways and means by midnight to-morrow. Mr Lees Smith, the former Minister of Education, opposed the resolutions, which were carried, first by 308 votes to 215, and the second without a division.

Cabinet’s meeting this morning gave the final consideration to the Budget proposals.

ECONOMIES BILL LONDON, September 9. In the Commons, Mr. Macdonald introduced the Economies Bill, permitting economies in expenditure to be carried out by orders-in-Council, thus saving time, and thwarting obstructions. The Bill was read a first time. PRESS OPINIONS. LONDON, September 9. “The Times,” in an editorial, says: Mr Henderson’s speech reveals him as an astute party manager, who is resolute in putting his party before national interests. The upshot of the debate is that the Budget will be balanced, but that the deeper crisis will continue until the equilibrium of exports and imports is restored. “The Daily Herald” says: Mr MacDonald failed to show that the capitulation to the British and foreign bankers’ demand to reduce the payments to the unemployed was the only possible emergency measure. He showed that it meant outside dictation, and that it increased our liabilities to the foreign banks, that it crippled our freedom in foreign policy and that it commits the country to a reduction in the standard of living, which reduction the MacMillan Committee has shown, would lead to a continuance of the trade depression and the unemployment.

WHITEHALL DEMONSTRATIONS.

POLICE CHARGE CROWDS.

LONDON, September 8There was a noisy crowd of 2000 in Whitehall at 10 o’clock to-night. An unruly elements consisting of agitators and leaders of the unemployed demanded an interview with Mr MacDonald, as a protest against the* reductions in unemployment relief payments. The police finally made a baton charge. - A crowd of young Communists around the Cenotaph refused to disperse. They hooted the police, until a charge by mounted men cleared the streets. LATER. Disorders in the vicinity of Parliament House throughout last evening were of a serious nature. One thousand foot police, in addition to mounted police, were required to cope with them. Whitehall was jammed with humanity, including crowds who were watching the illuminations- Many people were knocked down and trampled on during the mounted police charges. ‘

Police cars drove round the Parliament Square to prevent the reassembly of the demonstrators ; Three .persons were taken to hospital. Seventeen were arrested.

T.U.C. CONGRESS.

(Recd. Sept. 10, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 9.

The Trades Union Congress Conference discussions were interrupted, while members patched the police battle with the unemployed, whose deputation the Congress refused to receive.

The day’s proceedings were mostly addresses from international delegates, including J. Moreschi, American Federation of Labour, who bluntly told the Conference that Americans believed the cure for unemployment was not the dole, but work*