BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1929, Page 6

BRITISH POLITICS.

ATTACK BY LORD BIRKENHEAD

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LONDON, Nov. 30

Lord Birkenhead, speaking at a Conservative Association meeting, declared : 'fhe tone which Mr Philip Snowden adopted on the. Continent in insisting on something whereanent a Conservative Goviernment would he equally consistent, hut more polite, was alien to British diplomatic traditions. He said: “It is astonishing that London should gallop forward and acclaim Mr MacDonald and Air Snowdon. and confer on them the freedom of the city. It was in the balance in IDI l-19 I S whether the Empire survived or smashed, that Mr Snowden contributed a constant stream of defeatism. and Air .MacDonald excited only a strike of the mercantile marine when it. refused to convey him to a Soviet Conference. A combination of the other parties could turn out the Government. I would rely on the common sense of the people to turn it out when it was grossly wrong "rather than maintain it by fundamental hypocrisy. Unless it is controlled, it will destroy the whole basis on which our relationship with Egypt depends, and bankrupt us in our obligation to maintain tne rights of civilised countries there. If the Government can escape its obligations to Europe, it will prove- itself a political infant. There is no immediate prospect of Dominion status for India. U would dissolve India in anarchy, T wish that some son of toil and competent trades unionist were Tuition Secretary. It is not the place for a second-rate Parliamentary filibuster. and I hope those who must decide the question will not be influenced Ivy this amateur sentimental diplomacy. AA’e are finding work for more men in England than were employed in July. 191-1. Our right to largescale migration has been greatly restricted. The Government places burden after burden on capital. AVe shall soon find a-nuarter of a’ million bright-eyed boys who should be seeking work, receiving a dole.”

AY HIPS ANNOYED

LONDON. Nov. 30

The. Conservative AYliivis are annoyed at the laxity of the attend;]nee of the rank and file of the party. They point out that they missed a rare opportunity on .Thursday night to defeat the Government on the ,Women’s Pensions Bill amendment proposed by the Liberals. Only 123 out of the 2GO Conservatives were -present in the House, or otherwise the Government would easily have been defeated, because fifty-four Liberals voted solidly against the Government.' ~ ..

NEW PEERS TO REPRESENT LABOUR. LONDON, Nov. 29

It is anticipated that the New Year honours will include several Upper House creations, because Rt. Hon Mr .). Ramsay MacDonald .desires to strengthen the Labour representation in the House of on \\hieli it is intended to juit more, work.

DIFFERENCE WITH PARTY leaders:

LONDON, December 2

For some days there have been rumours of trouble between the official Labourites and live rebel Clydeside members of the House of Commons. This matter was discussed at Glasgow on Sunday evening at which Mr Maxton, ALP.. and some other members concerned attended.

Mr Maxton, in his speech, showed that the rumours, were trustworthy. He said: The crime that the Clydeside rs are committing is that of voicing the crying needs of the people. AVe have refrained from speaking with (freedim. ilnis 1 aiv out of loyalty to• the Government, out the position would he iiumorons ii Messrs A\ heatley, Maxton, Stephen ami Buchanan were to be expelled by the votes of Lord Parntoor and Commander Kenworthy.” Air Alaxton added that he had been asked by ‘the Leaders of the Labour Party not only to stop further talk of this description, hut that he should offer a public apology on Media 11 of the Clydeside group. He concluded: “If I am to make a choice between supporting the Cabinet and the unemployed, 1 am standing by the unemployed.” A meeting was held at Dumbarton at which Air Kirkwood attended. The meeting passed a vote oif confidence in Air Kirkwood, despite a letter from tho National Labour Party, complaining of the speech that was made by Air Kirkwood on Xovember l(j.