GOVERNMENT HAS A CLOSE SHAVE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 December 1929, Page 2

GOVERNMENT HAS A CLOSE SHAVE.

LEFT WINGEBS BEBEL ON INSURANCE BILL, IRISH INDEPENDENCE. Received Tuesday, 7.15 p.m. LONDON, Dee. 2. In tho House of Commons, Mr. A. Henderson told questioners that tho exchange of Ambassadors with the Soviet would take place within a few days. Mr. Noel Buxton, in answer to questions, said the Government had u-j present intention of legislating on questions concerning the transference of land to public ownership, security of tenure for efficient farmers, or tho provision of credit on easy-terms.-Sir Austen Chamberlain sought a ruling on how far the House could discuss the Irish Froe State's decision not to permit appeals to the Privy Council. The Speaker said questions eould not be asked concerning matters whieh had been delegated to Dominions' Parliaments and Colonial Assemblies but when action was takon outside th» scope 01' delegated powers affecting"th« interests of Britain or the Dominions' or Colonies' contractual relations toward Britain, he.could not rule it should not be debated.

Mr. R. Morrison, in announcing that the Government hud decided to substitute for the Traffic Bill which was rejected on July 18, a far-reaching Bill, unifying all transport undertakings i» the London area under a single coa trol, said that without the elimination of present wasteful competition, there could not be sufficient revonue front present fares to meet expeasett and develop traffic facilities. The t present complication of private and municipal interests added to the difficulties of the situation. It was proposed to explore, with the interests concerned,,fair and equitable terms for tho consolidation of all omnibus and tramway services and underground railways under public ownership, with unified commercial management. There was much excitement in tha committee stage of the unemployed Insurance Bill, when the closure was moved by Miss Margaret Bonfield and. only carried by 20i» votes to 196. Nine left wing Labourites voted against th© Government. The Liberals did act vote, though Mr. Baldwin and other Conservatives tried to persuade them to do so. The debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF LORDS AMENDS WIDOWS' PENSIONS BILL. WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Received Tuesday, 7.15 p.m.. LONDON, Dec. 2. In the House 'of Lords, 20 amendments were tabled in committee to the Widows and Orphans Old Age Contributory Pensions Bill. Lord Onslow moved the limit of the widow's pension to necessitous cases. Lord Buckmaster, in supporting this>, said there was no reason why every woman should become a chargo on the State because she was widowed. The amendment would not go far to stay the flood of extravagance- undor which the. country would soon be. submerged, accompanied by the multiplication" of Government departments, which was to be feared more than the multiplication of widows Several Liberals supported the- Government but the amendment wa« carried by 32 votes to 16. A consequential amendment, describing necessitous widows as not receiving £250 per annum altogether, was carried without a division. Another sob-sec-tion was deleted by 33 votes to 9. The Bill then passed through, committee. The Government does not intend to accept the amendment, a similar one having been dofeated twice already in the Commons. The Government view is that the amendment would disqualify a few widows but add considonibly to administration expenses.

Everybody Astounded At Traffic Proposals £100,000,000 INVOLVED. Received Tuesday 11.45 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 3. Everybody concerned with. Loudon'3 transport, as well as the. newspapers, is frankly astounded at Mr Morrison \s statement concerning London's traftic. The magnitude of the iasue is show* by the fact that more than £100,000,000 of capital is involved in London's railways,' tubes, trams and buses. The Daily Telegraph Parliamentaryeditor says: "It is quite cortain that nakedly Socialistic proposals, such as this appears to be, will never be accepted by this Parliament. The Government will be pressed for a further explanation." Mr MacDonald docs not desire to disclose the names of the industrialist and economists who were given a luncheon at No.' 10 Downing Street, but it is known they discussed the position of industry, especially in relation to the- establishment of a body of expert advisers, analogous to tho Committee of Imperial Dofenee or the Committee of Civil Research. Those present included Lord Weir and Mr. J. M. Kaynea, the economist.