BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

BRITISH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

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

LONDON, December 5

The House of Commons devoted the evening to the Committee stage o'i the Unemployment Insurance Bill. Alter a heated debate, in connection with the “genuinely seeking work” conditions, the Government was faced with an open revolt by its back benchers, including the representatives of b:g 'trade Unions, which would have certainly entailed a defeat.

Rt. Hon. Miss M. Bondfield (Minister of Labour), hurriedly retired with the Attorney-General. When she returned, she announced the withdrawal of the whole of the sub-clause ior its re-drafting.

Hie opposing Labour members argued that the sub-section in question opened the door of the administration to-persecution. Rt. Hon. Mr Jowitt (Attorney-Gen-eral) replied that they must encourage a spirit of self-help. They could not legislate on the lines that those who were unemployed need only sit at home and smoke their pipes until work was found. He admitted that there was a difficulty in granting what was required.

Mr Philip Snowden, by special request, will meet the recalcitrants today, when he will be faced with demands, not only from the Clyde.siders, but from the Trade Union Ms’.P. who constitute about seventy-five per cent of the Labour Party in the House of Commons.

The Trade Union Ms.P. demand that the waiting period for the benefit should be three days, instead of six days.

It is estimated that this change will cost' four millions a year.

Last night’s debate caused Mr Ramsay MacDonald some anxious moments. The rank and file seemed determined to defeat the Minister unless she surrendered.