SEATS FOR LAB. LEADERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1931, Page 5

SEATS FOR LAB. LEADERS

MINISTERIAL GENEROSITY PEERAGE FOR MR. THOMAS ? [BY CABLE —PBESB ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] (Recd. Nov. 2, 10 a-m.) LONDON, November 1. It is reported that Mr MacDonald and Mr Baldwin are concerned about the size of the Government majority, and are anxious to arrange full Labour representation in the House, wherefore it may facilitate the reelection of Mr Henderson, Mr Graham and others. It is rumoured .that Mr J. H. Thomas will be given a peerage, but he himself knows nothing about It is most likely that Mr MacDonald will follow the Continental precedent and form a Ministry of Industries and Economics, involving the creation of two new offices in connection with tariffs and industry.

The Conservatives favour immediate anti-dumping duties and the reimposition of the lapsed safeguarding duties. It is feared that the country may be flooded with foreign goods during the next few months, nullifying for a long time the benefits of later tariff legislation.

The “Observer” suggests the likelihood of emergency tariff legislation, as never before was there such an accumulation in the dock warehouses of goods sent on consignment in anticipation of the tariff. A novel idea has been advanced for the utilising of the wealth of material at the disposal of Mr MacDonald for the formation of a Cabinet. The suggestion is that the brilliance of Sir J. Simon and the practicalness of Sir R. S. Horne should be utilised in the capacity of a “Scotland Yard” flying squad, to deal with emergencies and awkward problems, perhaps with the assistance of Mr Snowden. The plan is the outcome of a conference of highplaced men, detached from politics, who discussed with Mr MacDonald the best means of grappling with the situation.

* THE NEW COMMONS. LONDON, October 31. The state of parties is now:— Conservatives 469 National Labour 13 National Liberal 65 National Independent .. 5 • Labour 51 Liberal 7 Independents 3 The National or Simonite Liberals at a meeting expressed satisfaction that thirty-five had been returned out of forty-one candidates and resolved to continue their organisation. Dr Graham Little, an Independent Conservative, has been elected for London University. The new House of Commons includes eighteen Doctors, seven Generals, twenty Colonels, three- Admirals, seven airmen, and a dozen bankers. All six clergymen who were in the last Parliament, were defeated. PARLIAMENT’S ASSEMBLY. RUGBY, October 31. Some days will elapse before the announcement is made of the personnel of the reconstructed Cabinet. The task qf building a Cabinet of definitely national, and not party character will be proceeded with next week. The speaker of the Commons will be selected on Tuesday, when the new members will meet infornlally for that purpose. On the following day, the swearing-in of members, which will occupy twb or three days will begin. The State opening of Parliament will take place on November 10. It is expected that the session will be short, and end about the end of next month. Parliament wiil adjourn until after the new year, reassembling probably in February.

Only two seats in the Commons are now unfilled. These are for the Combined Universities, and the results will be declared on Monday. They are unlikely to increase the strength of the Opposition, which stands at 58. MR THOMAS’S PENSION.

LONDON, October 31.

Mr Thomas, commenting on the Railwaymen’s Executive’s decision (refusing him a pension) says: “I had not realised that the machine is more important than the nation. Obviously, political prejudices, the result of the election, are uppermost in their minds. The delegates’ mentality was indicated by their question to to whether I realised that* if my wife and family were penniless, the members might whip round. People of such mentality and blind political prejudice are now controlling the union which I made the most respected in the world. They demanded that I leave the National Government. I would have been a cad and a coward to comply. They can deprive me of a pension, but. not of my soul, or independence. I told them I was now the only railway man in the House of Commons. I will remain their champion, despite their action.” FURTHER CREDIT TO BRITAIN. LONDON, October 31. The Bank of England announces in connection with Franco-American fifty millions sterling credit which was obtained on September 1, that it is expiring to-day, October 31, but the Franco-American banks have agreed to extend a credit of thirty millions for three months. The Bank of England is selling fifteen millions worth of gold as part payment of the balance of the expiring credit.