HOUSE OF COMMONS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 305, 9 December 1931, Page 7

HOUSE OF COMMONS

CLOSE OF SESSION RUSH OF QUESTIONS. “A MOTION OF CENSURE.” (British Official Wireless.) (Received 9, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, Nov. 8. The House of Commons rises for the Christmas recess on Friday, which will be devoted to the adjournment motion. The closing days of the session are marked by a congestion of business at question time, and to-day’s order paper contained one hundred and forty questions for oral answer. It is significant of tho interest taken in matters conected with industry and the trad economic position in the country that out of this number seventy were addressed to the President of tho Board of Trade. No fewer than eighteen questions were aimed at eliciting a promise of the extension of the operation of tho Abnormal Importations Act to various articles, and the House was amused when Mr. Runciman, grouping them together, gave a single answer to the effect that it would be improper for him to indicate the articles which might or might not be included in future orders under he Act. TARIFF AND LAND TAXES. The Prime Minister having accepted an enlargement of the terms of the Opposition motion of censure and tho allocation of to-morrow and Thursday for its discussion in tho House of Commons, the direct motion for the protection of the iron, steel, cotton and other industries which had been moved by Conservative tariff reformers cannot now be moved. The position of these industries may be raised on the censure motion, but in view of its terms the possibility of a debate on this question being carried to a decision which might tie the hands of the Government is regarded as unlikely. Under the standing orders, no subject involving legislation can be raised on a motion for adjournment and “The Times” says that the Government is obviously unwilling to give time for a discussion of the motion handed in by a section of their followers which would pledge the House, if carried, to the principle of immediate protection for these industries. Another question regarding which there has been much controversy is that of the finances in relation tn land taxes, the machinery for which provision was made in the Labour Budget memorandum published at the time. It is stated that the total cost of the first valuation under the scheme will be between £1,000,001 and £500,000. The taxes do not become operative until 1933, but financial provision has been made for beginning the valuation. The proposed taxes were vigorously assailed when they came before the last Parliament and some narrow divisions were recorded. A demand for the withdrawal of the scheme has been made, but this course is said to be strongly opposed by Mr. Snowden and certain other Ministers. Newspapers state that the Cabinet has considered the question primarily from the point of view of economy. “BUY BRITISH” CAMPAIGN. (Received 9, 12.50 p.m.) London, December 8. In the House of Commons, Mr J. H. Thomas informed Mr Agnew that the “Buy (British” campaign permeated the whole Kingdom to the advantage of Great Britain and the Dominions. Mr Nathan: Has it not been a serious factor in the adverse position of the pound sterling? Mr Thomas: I cannot say. The Council of the Central Associated Chambers of Agriculture passed a resolution demanding that beef, mutton and pork supplied to the forces should cither be of British or of Empire origin. BOARD OF TRADE CRITICISED. (Received 9, 11.10 a.m.) London, December 8. Sir George Terrell, in his presidential address at the meeting of the National Union of Manufacturers criticised Mr Runeiinan for his slowness in imposing tariffs on all imports competing with British industries. He declared that the Board of Trad 0 officials were incompetent to frame a general tariff. Their description of articles in the first order under the Abnormal Imports Act was full of confusion. He proposed tho immediate establishment of an expert tariff commission in view of the fact that other duties were still competing with British industries. The meeting passed a resolution accordingly. VALUATION WORK SUSPENDED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 9, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, Dec. 8. In his statement of the Government’s decision with regard to land valuation for the purpose of the land tax proposals, made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Commons, he said that as the need for economy had become paramount, the Government, after careful consideration felt that they would not be justified in incurring further expenditure upon an object which would not produce any return for a considerable time. The proposed tax would not have become operative till 1933. Mr Chamberlain added that the Government proposed, without prejudice to the merits of the plan, to suspend the work upon valuation and to disperse the temporary staff engaged in connection with it. HOURS IN COAL MINES. The Mines Minister announced that the International Labour Office, at the request of the British Government, is inviting Belgium, Czccho-Slovakia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland to attend a meeting at Geneva in January to discuss informally the ratification of the international convention on hours of work in coal mines. BELGIAN MINISTER'S VISIT. .British Official Wireless.) (Received 9, 12.30 p m.) Rugby, Dec. 8. The Belgian Foreign Minister, M. Paul Hymans, met Sir John Simon yesterday, and last night Sir John Simon was the guest if the Belgian embassy at a dinner given in honour of the distinguished statesman. Sir John Simon will entertain M. Hymans at luncheon to-day and before he leaves for Brussels to-morrow M. Hymans will have a conversation with Mr Runciman.