KING'S CIVIL LIST

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1936, Page 5

KING'S CIVIL LIST

LABOUR OBJECTIONS. , [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN.—COPtmGIiT.] I LdNiiON, May 5. I lln the Housb of Cbmhißhs, Mr. N. Chamberlain, Charicbllor bf tile Exchequer,. brbiight up thfe report on the King’s Civil List. Several of tile Left supporters in tho House did riot hesitate to attack the monarchical system. Mr. McGovern said ,that proposals to provide the King with £llO,OOO, for his personal purse, was outragebus, if jit ware contrasted with the 17/- per J week that iVas given to an uneniploy- • cd man. Mr. McLaren: The House is not giving the King anything. Mr. McGovern proceeded to refer to Monarchy as being “purely a decorative job; a symbol of exploitation and of robbery.” He described the Monarchical institution as being a useless thing in the modern State. Mr. G. D. G. Hardie, Springburn. Glasgow, contrasted £lO,OOO a year provision for a possible wife of the King, with the condition of the children that were being born in the East End of Glasgow that night. He protested against the provision being niaile for the. relatives of -the King, whereas other people had to keep their own relatives. He also criticised the I £70,000 a year provided for the Queen 1 mother, while widows only received seven shillings and sixpence or half-a-crown a week. He did not believe • I that the King would approve, if he wer* a free agent. ’l Sir Stafford Cripps (Labour), said Hhe believed that these large sums werb necessary in the present circumstances, which arose from traditional 1 demands of the aristocracy.

Mr. Gallacher (Communist), said he thought the Goveriment ought to feel a sense of shame, in bringing their proposals before thO House. Many members explained and defended the vote. Mr. Lawrence moved an amendment to reduce the amount by £l,OOO, as a protest. Tho amendment was defeated by 238 to 102 votes. Mr. Stephens moved an amendment to omit the additional provision for the Duke and Duchess of York and their children, which was defeated by 261 votes to 22 votes. ThCfb Whs also ail amendment to delete the provision for a prospective Queen and children of the marriage. 'Phis was defeated by 278 votes to 17. Two of the Government resodutions were carried by 284 votes to 17 and 291 to 3, and the third without a division.