ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1936, Page 5

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

COMMONS DEBATE CRITICISM OF LEGISLATION. (British. Official Wireless.) • RUGBY. November 3. For the first time the Address-in-(Replv was moved- in the House of Commons by a woman member, Miss F. ’ Horsburgh, the Conservative member for Dundee. She declared that the legislative programme was designed to bring, greater security to the individual citizen and to stabilise the economic and political life of the country. She said that the vast majority ’of electors would welcome the. assurance that a bill would be introduced to give power to deal more effectively with persons , and organisations , which promoted or caused disturbances of the public-

peace. . Mr Harold Nicholson, the National Labour member for Leicester,* who seconded the Address-in -Reply, took up the reference to the need tor more comprehensive efforts to improve the physical condition of the nation. He expressed confidence that the Government would not approach the /problem from the angle either of a drill sergeant or a gymnasium instructor. They did not want, to create a new generation <> witless and muscle-bound men an women, but a generation capable o observing and responding to what was going to be a period of great opportunity. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was opened by Mr C. B. Atlee who was re-elected leader of the Labour party*'' in the House of Commons. He ■ criticised the absence of any reference to the' plight of the unemployed and the failure to indicate any aproach to the major discontents at home, or any initiative in dealing with world umest. Mr Atlee was followed by ™e Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin), who was warmly received by the House on his resumption of active political duties. Mr Baldwin said it would be under the happiest auspices that .the .Imperial Conference would) assemble again in e same month as the Coronation. He hoped that the Factories Bill would be introduced before Christmas, aikl that in the .bill they would be able to deal with al] aspects of the subject. The proposed bill would be not only a consolidating measure, but a measure ’for the revision of laws. He considered that the .projected Public Order Bill wa s urgent, and be hoped to see it passed before Christmas. Sir Archibald Sinclair, leader of the Lilberals, said that be had found very great interest and profound anxiety about the international situation .among members of all parties. He attributed the weakness of the Government’s policy to the fact that while a year ago 50 nations were following the British lead m united resistance of aggression’, now the Government was unable to . .bring five nations together in a conference for the preservation of peace in Western Europe, and the country was exposed to the gibes and threats of foreign statesmen. He advocated the immediate implementation of the remommendations of the Royal Commission . on the, manufacture and trade in arms. , Mr ' Baldwin announced that Thursday would he devoted to a debate on. foreign affairs in their widest aspect. The debate would be onened bv the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden), who would give a general, review* of the international situation. Mr , Baldwin added that he honed that the debate on. the new Egyptian treaty would take place one day during the week after next. On Thursday there would he a statement on Palestine, and he expressed the hope that all parties in Palestine would co-operate, with the Royal Commision which was going out; and which was perfectly free to report in N anv sense its members though fit within its terms of reference.