BRITISH POLITICS

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9802, 12 May 1924, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

BUDGET AMENDMENT DEBATE

TO-MORROW.

WILL GOVERNMENT BE j DEFEATED ?

United Press Association.—Copyright. LONDON, May 9. A Government defeat on the Budget is always a serious matter, and in view cl Mr dynes’s recent announcement that tiie Government intend to treat the amendment as a vote of censure, it is bound to treat defeat on Tuesday in u conventional way, adjourning the House and considering it?; position', hut the chance of defeat is infinitesimal, as Liberal support for the Government is certain while Laborites who favor the McKenna duties are hound to rally to the Government’s support alter the statement by Air C-lynes.

NAVAL ESTIMATES.

CONSERVATIVES WANT SINGAPORE DOCK IMPROVED.

ADMIRALTY READY TO SELL

SHEER.NESS

LONDON, May 9. The desirableness of a policy v of disarmament on tho one hand, and provision for the equipment of dockyards on tho other hand, were the main points debated during the dismiss ion of the naval estimates in thu Commons. Conservatives persisted in stressing the necessity for improving the Singapore dockyard. Colonel Amery said there was an overwhelming case for the modernisation of at least one dockyard cast of Suez Canal, and in such an event there was no doubt which should be chosen.

Air Ammon, replying, said the Government noted with the greatest friendliness and pleasure the American Senate’s resolutions regarding a limitation of armament conference. It would do everything possible, so far as Britain was concerned, to show a reciprocal desire to enter into any such negotiations or discussions. Admiralty experts were studying the-, question as to how the development of higher offensive power of different weapons might materially alter the position of" dockyards strategically. One difficulty concerned the welfare of the populations which grow up around and are dependent upon existing dockyards. Opinion was now altered on all sides regarding the <3o-«irah-chess of adopting the. Geddes Committee’s suggestion -to dispose of the Pembroke dockyard, but the Admiralty were quite ready to sell Sbeorness for commercial purposes. —Reuter.

HOAIE RULE FOR SCOTLAND. BILL TALKED OUT. UPROAR IX THE HOUSE. LONDON, Alay 9. A scene of uproar occurred in the House of Commons in consequence of the Speaker allowing the_Home Rulefor Scotland Bill to be talked oxit. The Bill provides foi Hit. establishment- in Scotland of a single-cham-bered Parliament of 143 mdnnbers, Scotland continuing its present representation in the Commons until a general devolution scheme is instituted in the United Kingdom. — Reuter.

FURIOUS SCENE IN COMMONS. SPEAKER DECLINES TO APPLY CLOSURE. (Received Mnv 11. 5 p.m.) LONDON, Alay 9. A Laborite. Air Buchanan, in moving the second reading, claimed that the Scots almost unanimously favored the scheme in order to relieve the congestion in the Commons. Air T. Johnson seconded the motion Air Baird moved its rejection. A number of Alinbterinl Scotsmen finally endeavoured to move the closure. hut the Speaker declined to accent this, whereupon pandemonium arose in the Labor benches, Air Kirkwood and others angrily shouting and contesting t-ha fairness of ■ the Speaker’s decision, saying it was the first private Bill this session which had had the closure refused. Air -Adamson said the Government approved the general principle of the Bill, and he hoped it would he read a second tune by an overwhelming majority. The Government was prepared to appoint a committee to examine tho whole question and report to the House, because a vital issue was concerned, equally important to the English and the Wc-lsh also. The Speaker said he had, earlier, intended' to accept the closure, but justified his action by referring to an incident- in the debate, when Laborites and Liberals objected to a member on the Opposition bench being called on to speak on the ground that two. Opposition front benchers had previously spoken. Fresh pandemonium ensued, and Air Kirkwood was particularly furious. He filing Ins arms about and shouted an attack on tho Speaker. A Liberal, Air Hodge, for endeavoring to continue the discussion in defiance of the Speaker’s ruling, was threatened with suspension.

The Speaker fina 11 y declared the House adjourned. —A. and N.Z.C.A. BREAKING DOWN SENTIAIENT AND TRADE TIES.

EX.-N.S.W. MINISTER OX BUDGET PROPOSALS.

LONDON. May 9,

Sir Thcmas Henley (ex-Ministcr of Works in New South Wales) in an Interview roundly condemned ' the Budget. He said Mr Snowden seared to be doing his best to break down the ties of sentiment and trade binding Australia to the Empire. He hoped, however the Commonwealth Parliament would not abolish preference to Britain, because lie was eura Mr Snowden’s attitude towards, the Dominions was not that of a majority of the people of Britain.Reuter.