BIG PROGRAMME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 February 1925, Page 7

BIG PROGRAMME.

BEFORE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. SESSION COMMENCED BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Feb. 10. Parliament re-assembled to-day. Controversial topics looming ahead include the safeguarding of industries, the trade unions’ political levy, housing, the Navy programme, and the Geneva protocol.” It is also understood that the Government- is considering the stricter administration of the unemployment dole, and a possible reduction of bene fits.

Although strenuous opposition is threatened, the Government’s majority is so large that the whips are arranging for the release of batches of Conservative members for the purpose of campaigning in the country. The Parliamentary correspondent of the Daily Telegraph understands that Mr. Winston Churchill (Director of the Exchequer) is resisting the Admiralty’s new cruiser programme, and hints that the Government is inclined to a postponement in view of. the Geneva proposal for the disarmament conference.

Major G. C. Tryon (Minister for Pensions), speaking at Lewisham, declared that the country’s expenditure on war pensions since 1917 up to March next amounts to £600,000,000. The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, referring to foreign rumours, savs he has the highest outhority for stating that the Government has na intention to treat the problems of inter-Allied debts, security or Cologne control as in any wav interdependent or furnishing opportunities for bargainig.