CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 September 1931, Page 6

CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT

THE KING’S MESSAGE. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received thia day at 12.26. p.m., LONDON, September 8. The Commons passed a vote of confidence in the Government by 309 to 250. Mr Robert Young resigned the chairmanship of Ways and Means Committee and Mr Dunnieo resigned the deputy chairmanship. Mr MacDonald’s motion appointing Dennis Herbert to the chairmanship was agreed to. without division. • The King’s Message was read. It stated the present condition of the national finances in the opinion oi Ministers calls for the imposition of additional taxation and economies in public expenditure. It recommends the matter. for consideration to the faithful Commons and trust they will make provision accordingly. Mr Henderson said Labour would carry out the duty of the opposition and oppose the Government programme. Nothing was heard to-day to induce a change of attitude. He was not complaining about the banks and would not dream of doing so. He denied that the Labour Government was responsible for the financial situation. Mr Churchill said:—l am of opinion that whatever views may be held the House and nation is now ripe for protection. There would be no revival of British industries until a tariff was proclaimed. Further there would be no restoration of confidence at home or abroad until Socialists were decisively defeated at the polls. Mr Maxton said the fundamental question was not tariff ap’d the gold standard, but the question of how the /unemployed were going to be treated and the question whether a small group of financial magnates were going to dominate Britain’s national policy. Personally, he believed economies were only going to postpone the crisis for a few weeks. Then they would a breakdown when the capitalist system would no longer work. The National Government had entered office as miserable hirelings, who were prepared to sacrifice the women sand children. The Government scheme was trivial and pettifogging. He hoped the Labour movement would realise that Parliamentary opposition was not its only resource. A revolutionary situation was rapidly approaching.

VOTING OF MEMBERS. (Received this day at 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 8. Twelve Labour members supported the Government, of whom seven are Ministers and five back benchers ; also three and all the Liberals, three Labour members, Picton, Tubervil'le Strauss, and Norman Angell •? abstained. Oliver Baldwin and Morleys voted in apposition. The Government majority was better than was expected, as 'it was estimated before the debate at forty. VIEWS OF THE HEADS. LONDON, September 8. Mr MacDonald in the Commons re. erred to the King’s example in regard fo the national sacrifice, and appealed to the House to uphold the Government’s hand in the work of restor’ng the national credit. Mr Henderson said the crisis was not the making of the late .Government, and national and international propaganda created it. The Opposition were willing to try to balance the budget but nof at the expense of the unemployed. Mr Baldwin said the Conservatives Avould give the Government full, wholehearted support to achieve the result for which the National Government was formed.